Lovin’ it: MCHS’ Epps a McD’s All-American

Makayla Epps has made history in Marion County again.
Epps was recently chosen to play on the most prestigious and highly recognized high school all-star game in the country, the McDonald’s All-American game. No other athlete in Marion County history has ever been chosen as a member of this elite team.
Epps is currently averaging 23.3 points per game, 4.2 steals per game, and 4.5 assists per game, all while her team has just finished a perfect 30-0 regular season.
“This is a great, great, great accomplishment,” Epps said. “This wasn’t always a goal of mine and I didn’t put a lot of thought into becoming an All-American.  Now being the second player from Kentucky selected and becoming the sixth Kentucky recruit to be picked is just an amazing feeling.”
Marion County Lady Knights Head Coach Trent Milby said being a McDonald’s All-American is the highest honor a high school player can receive.
“It will be an experience that Makayla will never forget,” he said.
The McDonald’s All-American game for girls has been played annually since 2002. Prior to the 2011 game, no young woman from Kentucky had ever been selected to the team. In that year, Rockcastle County’s Sarah Hammond was chosen and became the first ever Kentucky girl to participate in the game. This year, Epps along with Owensboro Catholic’s Rebecca Greenwell, will be representing Kentucky.
Epps will play on the east team. She will join future Wildcat teammate Linnae Harper from Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Ill., who will be competing against Epps on the west team. Epps will also be competing against fellow Kentucky player Greenwell, who will also be on the west squad. Each team will be made up of 12 of the best players from across the country, and all but one of those players has committed to a division one school.  
The East team will be coached by Fred Priester from Oakton High School in Vienna, Va. Assistant coaches will be Krista Jay also from Oakton, and Derek Fisher from Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, Va.
Tickets are now available for the game through www.ticketmaster.com, keyword McDonald’s All American High School Basketball. Prices range from just over $14 to just under $140 per ticket. Family four packs are also available. The game will be played on Wednesday, April 3, at the home of the Chicago Bulls, the United Center in Chicago, Ill. For those not able to attend the game, ESPNU will televise the event live at 7 p.m.
The complete rosters for each team can be viewed at either http://goo.gl/gLfw2 or http://goo.gl/5L9GP. The ESPN page has a biography of each player on both teams.
 

Stephen Lega

Makayla Epps is the first McDonald's All-American in MCHS history.

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