by DAVID SENTENDREY
Intern Sports Reporter

J.R. Archer and A.J. Highsmith share a mutual bond, they are both walk-on athletes for Appalachian State University’s men’s basketball team.

Although the two only appeared in 23 games combined last season, head coach Houston Fancher said the leadership of the two athletes is critical to the team’s success.

“J.R. is one of the hardest workers on the floor,” Fancher said. “A.J. is a vocal leader that wants nothing more than to see his teammates succeed.”

Sophomore guard J.R. Archer shoots the basketball during practice at the George M. Holmes Convocation Center Tuesday. Photo by Holt Menzies

Archer, a Boone native, graduated from Watauga High School in 2007 where he averaged 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals per game.

“I grew up watching Appalachian basketball since I was from the area, so coming here was a dream come true,” Archer said.

Archer’s older sister Helen was a manager for the ASU women’s basketball team from 2003-05.

“I was able to get some behind-the-scenes looks from her,” Archer said. “It helped me know what to expect coming in.”

Archer said he hopes to see more game time this season, but stressed his main goal is to see the team succeed.
Highsmith, a junior, is from Winston-Salem.

He averaged 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while attending R.J. Reynolds High School.

Although A.J. was not offered a scholarship, ASU coaches recruited him when they visited three of his high school games.

“Appalachian was the first school that I applied to in high school,” Highsmith said. “I loved the campus, I loved the atmosphere. When basketball came into the picture, it was the icing on the cake for me and a no-brainer.”

A.J. spent 17 days in Israel and Palestine last summer with Athletes in Action, touring biblical sites during the day and playing basketball in the evenings with locals.

“It was the best experience of my life,” Highsmith said. “They were very accepting and loving of Americans. It was a great experience to dive into another culture.”

Like Archer, Highsmith is hoping to see more playing time this season, but said he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.

“If that means being a vocal leader in practice, if that’s sitting the bench and not scoring a point, or if that’s playing 20 minutes a game, whatever I have to do I’m going to do,” Highsmith said.

As walk-ons, Archer and Highsmith have an assistant coach that knows what it is like to be a walk-on at ASU.

Assistant coach Matt McMahon became a two-year starter ranking in the top-20 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage during the 1998-99 season, after walking on to Appalachian’s team.

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