The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield is joining the rest of the basketball world in mourning the death of Kobe Bryant.
The NBA icon was in a helicopter that crashed in California on Sunday morning, killing Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others.
The Hoop Hall notes Bryant is a nominee for this year's Hall of Fame class, which is due to be announced during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago next month.
The President of the Hoop Hall, John Doleva says he expects Bryant to be voted into the Hall posthumously.
The UConn basketball family is mourning the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
Bryant had become close to UConn basketball and women's coach Geno Auriemma in recent years.
Bryant's daughter reportedly was an outstanding 13-year-old player who had aspirations of playing at UConn someday.
The UConn women's basketball team posted a picture of Kobe and Gianna in UConn shirts on Twitter, saying they meant a lot to the program and will be deeply missed.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)