Cassius Winston thanks fans for their support after brother’s death in heartfelt speech

Cassius Winston spoke to Michigan State fans on Monday for the first time since his brother’s death, and he thanked them in a heartfelt speech.

The senior guard had 11 points and eight assists in the Spartans’ 94-46 win over Charleston Southern on Monday night. After the game, Winston spoke to the fans at the Breslin Center and thanked them for their support.

“Thank you, thank all of Spartan Nation. It’s been a really tough time for me and my family. Just all the support, all the love, all the flowers, I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart — me and my family,” Winston said. “There’s no better place than this and how you guys showed how much you care. My teammates and coaches — everybody in this building — I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I lost a piece of my heart, but you guys keep me going. I love everything about this place, and I really appreciate you guys, so thank you.”

Winston’s brother, Zachary, died on Saturday, November 9 after being hit by a train — police believe the 19-year-old stepped in front of the train intentionally. He was a reserve on Albion College’s basketball team.

Here is video of Cassius’ speech:

"I lost a piece of my heart, but you guys keep me going."@cassiuswinston took the mic after tonight's game to thank the fans and his @MSU_Basketball teammates for their support after his brother Zachary's death. pic.twitter.com/4yG86aeeDK

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 19, 2019

Winston has played in all four of Michigan State’s games this season. The Spartans have gone 3-0 since Zachary’s death.