Ex-Southern Miss player Jonathan Mills shot, killed in Chicago

Jonathan Mills, who played two seasons on the Southern Miss basketball team, was shot and killed in his hometown of Chicago on Monday, according to Chicago police.

The 26-year-old Mills was shot several times around 1:30 p.m. near his old high school, North Lawndale College Prep.

Mills planned to practice Monday at the high school gym to stay in shape for a shot at making an overseas team, North Lawndale basketball coach Lewis Thorpe told the Chicago Tribune.

"My heart just dropped," Thorpe said of his reaction when he heard of the shooting and rushed to the scene. "(Mills' mother) was taking it really hard. She just didn't understand. She's trying to find out why this happened. ...

"I am so shocked. When I say he was well liked ... everybody loved him."

Mills' coach at Southern Miss, Donnie Tyndall, told ESPN.com, "He was a great kid. City-tough but a kindhearted kid. Straight warrior on the floor but a kid I would let babysit my daughters. He told me he loved me every time we talked. Just tragic."

Mills, 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, was an all-state forward at North Lawndale, then spent two years at Utah State University Eastern before moving to Southern Miss. He averaged 9.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in his final season with the Golden Eagles.

He later played for a pro team in London, Ontario, and a semi-pro team in Chicago.

The Lightning team and players tweeted condolences to Mills' his family.

I pray for a better tomorrow for us all. My condolences goes out to a former London player who was killed. RIP Jay Mills @LondonLightning

— Ty Patterson (@BoobieMcBuckets) July 26, 2016