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The St. Louis sports community reacts to death of eighth grade football phenom Jaylon McKenzie

The death of eighth grade football phenom Jaylon McKenzie has notable sports figures from Jayson Tatum to Lovie Smith sharing their condolences on social media.

14-year-old Jaylon McKenzie was shot and killed outside a house party on Saturday night in Venice, Illinois.

The eighth grader was a standout athlete in both football and basketball, and had already received college scholarship offers to play football at Missouri and Illinois.

RELATED: 8th grader who was a rising football star shot and killed at Metro East party, another teen injured

The shocking death of the star athlete had notable St. Louis sports figures sharing their thoughts and memories.

Boston Celtics star and St. Louis native Jayson Tatum:

Belleville, Illinois native and Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree Jackson:

Belleville West basketball star and Ohio State commit E.J. Liddell:

Sports Illustrated, who profiled McKenzie last year:

Trinity Catholic star Mookie Cooper:

Lutheran North head football coach Carl Reed:

University of Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith:

Lutheran North standout and University of Missouri commit Jack Buford:

Al Lewis, McKenzie's basketball coach with the Southwest Illinois Jets, told us he'll not just remember McKenzie as a talented athlete, but as a great kid.

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