University of Mobile basketball coach Darnell Archey said Kaiden Francis, who died Tuesday after collapsing on campus, was everything you could hope for in a student-athlete.

“Kaiden exemplified everything you want from a basketball player coming into a program,” Archey told AL.com late Tuesday night. “Great listener, hard worker and was a sponge. He was willing to do whatever the team asked of him to do. Make the extra pass or get a huge defensive stop.

“In the time I have got to coach Kaiden, his growth on the basketball court was tremendous. This past weekend he had 10 points vs No. 20 team in the country. He was on pace to being freshman of the year in our league.”

Francis, a 6-foot-2 freshman guard from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, collapsed Tuesday morning and “never recovered and passed away earlier today,” University of Mobile President Dr. Charles Smith said in a statement.

Wednesday’s classes have been canceled to allow the university community time to gather. There will be campus-wide time of prayer and mourning on Wednesday.

“My heart breaks for his family, friends and teammates,” Archey said. “He will be truly missed.”

The No. 24 Rams are coming off an 81-49 win at No. 20 Life on Saturday to improve to 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences university integrating faith and learning with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.