Pella's Kirk Korver, brother of Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyle Korver, dies at 27

Kirk Korver, the youngest brother of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver, died Tuesday, the Cavaliers said in a statement. He was just 27 years old.

"We are very sad to share that Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver's brother, Kirk, passed away today," the Cavaliers said in its statement. "Kyle has been excused from the team to be with his family. We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt best to Kyle and his entire family as they go through this very difficult time."

MORE:  Kirk Korver remembered as a kind, gentle basketball star

Joe Vardon, who covers the Cavaliers for Cleveland.com, reported that Kirk Korver fell seriously ill last week.

Dan Sorensen, the executive director of operations for Third Reformed Church of Pella, told the Des Moines Register on Wednesday that Kirk Korver died following a sudden illness Tuesday afternoon in Iowa City. Kirk Korver's father, Kevin, is the senior pastor at the church. 

“Kirk became seriously ill last week and died Tuesday afternoon in Iowa City,” said Sorensen, who identified himself as a family spokesman.

MORE: Kirk Korver died from sudden illness, family spokesperson tells Register 

RELATED:Funeral services for Kirk Korver to be held in his Pella family church

Kirk Korver starred as a prep at Pella High School. He was named third-team all-state his senior year by the Des Moines Register, when he averaged 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Kirk Korver went on to play collegiately at the University of Missouri-Kansas City from 2009 to 2014, where he scored 597 points in three seasons, ranking 32nd all-time in program history.

"Kirk was an exemplary student-athlete," the university's athletics department tweeted late Tuesday. "He defined kindness and hard work."

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Kirk Korver is the son of Rev. Kevin Korver and Laine Korver of Pella and has three surviving brothers: Kyle, Klayton and Kaleb. All brothers played at the collegiate level or above (Kyle—Creighton, 15-year NBA veteran; Klayton—Drake; Kaleb—Creighton.)

Kyle Korver left the Cavs on Friday to go home to Iowa to be with his brother. He re-joined the team Monday, scoring 12 points in a 124-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Cavs will be without Kyle Korver when they go up against the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors on Wednesday night.

Those who knew Kirk Korver took to social media to share their condolences:

Check back to DesMoinesRegister.com as this story develops.