Steven Archer (photo courtesy of UNC Charlotte Athletic Department)
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By Dan Sousa
LoudounPrepSports.com Senior Content Editor

Charlotte (Feb. 4, 2009) - UNC Charlotte is reporting that former Stone Bridge High School basketball and track and field standout Steven Archer passed away Monday night while suffering an apparent cardiac arrest while playing in a recreational basketball game.

"Steven's passing is a shock to our extended Charlotte track and field family and a terrible tragedy," said 49ers track and field coach Bob Olesen in a school release. "He loved our sport and worked hard to make a place for himself in it and was well on his way. He made the most of his very first opportunity to show his ability just two weeks ago sailing out to a new personal best in his event and paving the way for even greater opportunities with the program as the season continued. He was only with us for a short time but he has made a permanent impression and we will miss him greatly. His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers."

Archer, a sophomore, transferred to UNC Charlotte from Delaware State this fall and was a walk-on with the 49ers track and field program. Archer held high school records in the long jump and 4x100 meter relay at Stone Bridge. In 2007 Archer was second in the AAA Northern Region in the long jump and then finished 11th in the state meet with a jump of 22-1, which was tops on the LPS performances for Loudoun athletes that season. He was also one of Loudoun's top high jumpers with a 5-10 mark.

Stone Bridge track and field coach Bob Mandes reflected upon Archer and this is what he reported:

"Steven was an outstanding athlete.  He was a captain who unified the entire team through his personality and energy, truly making a sport that could be very individualistic into a team endeavor.  At the end of each invitational he would gather any SBHS athletes who wasn't competing and place them around the track to cheer on the 4x400 relay team.  That season we won 3 and were second in the other 3 invitationals and I credit Steven's leadership and enthusiasm for a lot of that.

Steven was never too busy, he was our elite jumper and would always stay and help any jumper that on the team.  Last season, whenever he was back in Ashburn, he would be at practice helping to coach the jumpers.  
As a senior in 2007, he was All-District (champion in the LJ), and All-Region (#2 in the LJ).

He left with school records in the LJ (22' 01") and in the 4x100 (broken last season).  He was ranked amongst the top 40 high school long jumpers in the country according to MileStat.  He was recruited by Delaware State and jumped there for one season before transferring to UNC Charlotte.  
 
Steven lit up every practice with his smile and energy and intensity.  He was the best athlete to coach - great work ethic, listened to instruction and made the corrections.  A lot of people will probably remember him for using the barrel-roll technique in the HJ, which made him fun to watch, but I will him as the great young man that he was."

Stone Bridge Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Sonny Green:

"I only had the priviledge of coaching Steven one year. He came in and had a very positive impact on the program immediately. He really loved the game of basketball. He propably knew every college and NBA basketball player along with their stats and the high school they attended. His knowledge of the game and basketball i.q. was phenominal. He had a work ethic that was second to none. The greatest impact that Steven had was on me as a person. Steven was a very mature young man, and always a joy to talk to. I will miss Steven greatly. He truly brought out the best in everyone around him including myself. I always felt like he brought out the best in everyone around him."

In the 2006-07 basketball season, Archer scored in 16 of the Bulldogs 23 basektball games, averaging 4.8 points per game as a guard. Archer started his high school career playing at Paul VI  in Fairfax before transferring to Stone Bridge.

This winter, in the indoor track season, he competed in the long jump for the 49ers, posting a top distance of 7.01 m (23'0) at the Liberty Open to move into ninth-place on the 49ers all-time top 10 in the event. That jump landed Archer fourth in the league rankings, this year. He also competed this past weekend at the Penn State National Invitational.

Steven is survived by his parents, Steven and Stacey Archer and his sister, Christine.

Memorials have not been finalized at this point.