NIL Opportunities

Epps' Career & Season Game-By-Game Stats (PDF)

2022-23 Freshman

• Played in 31 games with 11 starts
• Fifth on team in scoring, averaging 9.5 ppg
• Third on Illini in 3-point field goals (37) and assists (1.5 apg)
• 17 points – most vs. Big Ten foe – with four 3-pointers vs. Minnesota (Feb. 20)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 6)
• 16 points – 14 coming in 2nd half – and career-high five assists without a turnover at Iowa (Feb. 4)
• 12 points in win over Nebraska (Jan. 31)
• 13 points in win at Wisconsin (Jan. 28)
• 14 points in first Big Ten start in win over Ohio State (Jan. 24)
• 10 points on 5-9 FG in win at Minnesota (Jan. 16)
• Career-high five assists without a turnover in 31 minutes in win over Michigan State (Jan. 13)
• 11 points on 5-6 FG in win at Nebraska (Jan. 10)
• 15 points (5-8 FG) in win over No. 14 Wisconsin (Jan. 7)
• 11 points in win over No. 2 Texas (Dec. 2), including five in final minute – baseline 3-pointer at :33 to bring UI within two and pair of free throws at :08 left to force overtime – and runner to put Illini up three with 1:06 left in OT
• 11 points with three 3-pointers in win over Syracuse (Nov. 29)
• Team-high 14 points with four rebounds vs. No. 16 Virginia (Nov. 20)
• Season-high 21 points with five 3-pointers vs. Monmouth (11/14)

High School

• Four-star recruit in the Class of 2022 ranked No. 81 overall by the recruiting services consensus index
• Ranked No. 72 by 247Sports Composite, No. 79 by On3 Consensus, No. 83 by ESPN and No. 90 by Rivals
• 2022 Iverson Roundball Classic All-Star Game
• Played his final year at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina
• Led Combine to the 2022 Hoop State championship, going on a scoring spree during a fourth-quarter comeback and hitting the game winner at the buzzer
• Averaged 18 points, four rebounds and five assists while helping Combine to a 26-8 record
• Scored 39 points vs. Overtime Elite Team Gomes
• Played for Team Loaded on the AAU circuit
• Prior to Combine, attended King’s Fork High School in Suffolk, Virginia
• Did not have a junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Averaged 26 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals as a sophomore
• Led King’s Fork to a 24-3 record, Class 4A Region championship, and share of the Virginia Class 4A state title
• Class 4 Player of the Year by the Virginia High School League
• All-Tidewater Player of the Year

Personal

• Born Nov. 12, 2003
• Enrolled in the Division of General Studies (undeclared)
• Parents are Antwan and Rhonda Epps
• Has an older brother, Antwan Jr., and younger brother, Xavier
• Hobbies include playing video games including Call of Duty
• Played football growing up and was a swimmer
• Proudest sports achievement was winning state titles in Virginia as a sophomore and in North Carolina as a senior
• Favorite athletes are LeBron James, Damian Lillard and Gervonta Davis
• Favorite artist is NBA YoungBoy
• Favorite food is anything made by his grandmother, Diane, who had a catering service
• Lists his mentor, Steph Welsh, and coach at King’s Fork, Rick Hite, as most influencing his basketball career
• Chose Illinois because, “Every Day Guys; that’s what I am. I feel at home here and have a great relationship with the coaches, including Coach Frazier, he’s been my guy forever.”