2025-26 Men's Basketball Roster
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Jersey Number 10
Jayden Epps
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 190
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Norfolk, Va.
- High School/Previous School:
- Combine Academy - N.C./Georgetown
HONORS & AWARDS
2024-25 Big EAST Player of the Week • Dec. 16, 2024 • Georgetown
2022-23 Big Ten Freshman of the Week • Feb. 6, 2023 • Illinois
ESPN No. 88 National Recruit • Class of 2022
CAREER
Epps has played in 117 games while making 84 starts between his time at Illinois (2022-23) playing for Brad Underwood, at Georgetown (2023-24 • 2024-25) playing for Ed Cooley and at Mississippi State (2025-26) playing for Chris Jans … Secured 1,587 points, 300 assists, 265 rebounds and 105 steals … Sank 40.0 percent of his field goal attempts (552-of-1020), 31.3 percent of his three-point attempts (213-of-680) and 77.1 percent of his free throw attempts (270-of-350) … Came away with 84 efforts with double-digit points fueled by 25 outings of 20+ points and 7 performances with 30 or more points … Compiled 12 career efforts of 15+ points and 5+ assists … Connected for multiple three-pointers on 59 occasions and buried 5+ triples in 16 games … Recorded multiple steals 26 times and handed out 5+ assists in 18 games.
2025-26 • SENIOR
Epps provided 13.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.5 steals per game … Made 23 of his 30 appearances in State’s starting five headed by 14 of his first 16 outings (Nov. 5-Jan. 17) and the team’s final 9 games (Feb. 11-March 11) … Sank 40.4 percent from the floor (146-of-361), 30.6 percent of his three-point attempts (59-of-193) and 80.8 percent at the foul line (59-of-73) … Teamed with Josh Hubbard for 35.8 PPG which is State’s highest scoring duo during the 2000s and the program’s best since Jeff Malone and Terry Lewis paired up for 42.0 PPG in 1982-83 … Racked up 22 outings of 10+ points and 7 performances of 20+ points which were both 2nd on the team trailing only Hubbard … Secured double figures in 5 of his 7 outings coming off the bench … Led State in scoring on 6 occasions … Hit a three-pointer in 27 of his 30 appearances sparked by 17 times with multiple triples and a season’s best 13 straight games (Jan. 10-Feb. 25) … Handed out multiple assists in 17 games and added multiple steals 3 times.
2025-26 • BEST GAMES
Epps fired in 9 consecutive games with double figures (Nov. 15-Dec. 20) aided by 5 performances of 20+ points during the non-conference slate … Notched a non-conference season’s best 21 points and distributed a season-high 6 assists against New Mexico (Nov. 21) … Pumped home 21 points and swiped a season-high 4 steals versus SMU • Southern Methodist (Nov. 28) … Tallied another 21-point effort against San Francisco (Dec. 7) … Fired in 20 points during the Utah (Dec. 13) and Long Island (Dec. 16) contests … Dialed up 19 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting against Memphis (Dec. 20) … Ripped off double digit points in 13 of his 19 outings against SEC opponents … Started SEC action with a season-high 27 points with 5 assists at Texas (Jan. 3) … Poured in a bench watermark of 23 points with 4 assists at Missouri (Jan. 31) … Collected a solid all-around effort of 12 points, a career-best 7 rebounds and 3 assists during rivalry road win at Ole Miss (Feb. 14) … Came away with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists versus Georgia (March 7).
BEFORE STATE
2024-25: Epps collected 12.8 points, 2.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as a junior … Started in 22 of his 27 appearances … Connected on 39.3 percent from the floor (118-of-300), 34.4 percent from beyond the three-point line (53-of-154) and 75.0 percent on free throws (57-of-76) … Totaled 18 outings with 10+ points and reached the 20-point barrier on 5 occasions.
2023-24: Epps contributed 18.5 points, 4.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in his sophomore campaign ... Earned the starting nod in 28 of 29 games … Ranked among the BIG EAST’s top 10 in points (3rd) and assists (8th) … Converted on 39.2 percent from the field (177-of-452), 30.5 percent on three-pointers (64-of-210) and 76.3 percent from the charity stripe (119-of-156) … Pumped home 24 outings in double figures with 12 games of 20+ points.
2022-23: Epps notched 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game over his 31 appearances during his freshman season … The Fighting Illini posted a 20-13 record and made the 2023 NCAA Tournament … Started 10 of his last 12 appearances (Jan. 24-March 16) … Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 6) … Hit on 41.4 percent from the floor (111-of-268), 30.1 percent from three-point territory (37-of-123) and 77.8 percent on at the free throw line (35-of-45) … Captured 20 games with double-digit points with 1 outing of 20+ points.
BEST GAMES
2024-25: Epps started the season with 5 straight games of double-digit points (Nov. 6-23) wrapped up by a 23-point effort against Saint Francis (Nov. 23) … His season-high was 27 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting at Syracuse (Dec. 14) … Began BIG EAST play with 21 points and 3 steals versus Creighton (Dec. 18) … Provided 15 points apiece at Seton Hall (Dec. 22), at Villanova (Jan. 20) and at Butler (Feb. 15) … Amassed a BIG EAST season-high 22 points at Creighton (Feb. 23) … Chipped in 20 points against Villanova (March 4) during home finale.
2023-24: Epps’ top scoring efforts in non-conference action were a season-high 34 points versus Jackson State (Nov. 25), 31 points against American (Nov. 19) and 24 points versus TCU • Texas Christian (Dec. 2) during the BIG EAST/Big 12 Challenge … Put together a 16-game run of consecutive games with 10+ points (Nov. 11-Jan. 27) … Fired in 30 points with 5 assists against Seton Hall (Jan. 9) … Dialed up 32 points and dished out 11 assists at Xavier • Ohio (Jan. 19) for his first career double-double … Tacked on 26 points with 6 assists at Providence (Jan. 27) … Managed 31 points and 7 assists versus St. John’s (Feb. 21) … Exploded for a BIG EAST season’s best 33 points at DePaul (Feb. 24) … Capped season with another 30-point effort against Providence (March 13) at the BIG EAST Tournament.
2022-23: Epps reached double figures for the first time against Kansas City (Nov. 11) during his 2nd career game … Poured in a season’s best 21 points ignited by 5 three’s versus Monmouth (Nov. 14) … Secured a team-leading 14 points against No. 16 Virginia (Nov. 20) at Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas … Added 11 points versus Syracuse (Nov. 29) in ACC/Big Ten Challenge and 11 points during an overtime victory over No. 2 Texas (Dec. 6) at the Jimmy V Classic held inside Madison Square Garden in New York City … Tallied 15 points against No. 14 Wisconsin (Jan. 7) … Made his 1st Big Ten start and provided 14 points versus Ohio State (Jan. 24) … Ripped off 14 of his 16 points after halftime coupled with a season-high 5 assists at Iowa (Feb. 4) … Dialed up a Big Ten season’s best 17 points sparked by 4 triples against Minnesota (Feb. 20).
HIGH SCHOOL
Epps was a four-star recruit and ranked as a consensus top 100 player by all the major recruiting services … Rated No. 88 by ESPN for the Class of 2022 … Played his senior season at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina ... Averaged 18 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds … Combine won the 2022 Hoop State Championship and posted a 26-8 record … Selected to the 2022 Iverson Roundball Classic All-Star Game … Attended King’s Fork High School in Suffolk, Virginia … Did not have a junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Named 2020 Virginia High School Class 4A Player of the Year after he posted 26 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals per contest as a sophomore … Led King’s Fork to a 24-3 record and a share of the Class 4A state title … Played the AAU circuit for Team Loaded based in Virginia.
PERSONAL
Born on November 12, 2003 … Majoring in university studies and is on-track to graduate with his degree in Spring 2026.
2024-25 Big EAST Player of the Week • Dec. 16, 2024 • Georgetown
2022-23 Big Ten Freshman of the Week • Feb. 6, 2023 • Illinois
ESPN No. 88 National Recruit • Class of 2022
CAREER
Epps has played in 117 games while making 84 starts between his time at Illinois (2022-23) playing for Brad Underwood, at Georgetown (2023-24 • 2024-25) playing for Ed Cooley and at Mississippi State (2025-26) playing for Chris Jans … Secured 1,587 points, 300 assists, 265 rebounds and 105 steals … Sank 40.0 percent of his field goal attempts (552-of-1020), 31.3 percent of his three-point attempts (213-of-680) and 77.1 percent of his free throw attempts (270-of-350) … Came away with 84 efforts with double-digit points fueled by 25 outings of 20+ points and 7 performances with 30 or more points … Compiled 12 career efforts of 15+ points and 5+ assists … Connected for multiple three-pointers on 59 occasions and buried 5+ triples in 16 games … Recorded multiple steals 26 times and handed out 5+ assists in 18 games.
2025-26 • SENIOR
Epps provided 13.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.5 steals per game … Made 23 of his 30 appearances in State’s starting five headed by 14 of his first 16 outings (Nov. 5-Jan. 17) and the team’s final 9 games (Feb. 11-March 11) … Sank 40.4 percent from the floor (146-of-361), 30.6 percent of his three-point attempts (59-of-193) and 80.8 percent at the foul line (59-of-73) … Teamed with Josh Hubbard for 35.8 PPG which is State’s highest scoring duo during the 2000s and the program’s best since Jeff Malone and Terry Lewis paired up for 42.0 PPG in 1982-83 … Racked up 22 outings of 10+ points and 7 performances of 20+ points which were both 2nd on the team trailing only Hubbard … Secured double figures in 5 of his 7 outings coming off the bench … Led State in scoring on 6 occasions … Hit a three-pointer in 27 of his 30 appearances sparked by 17 times with multiple triples and a season’s best 13 straight games (Jan. 10-Feb. 25) … Handed out multiple assists in 17 games and added multiple steals 3 times.
2025-26 • BEST GAMES
Epps fired in 9 consecutive games with double figures (Nov. 15-Dec. 20) aided by 5 performances of 20+ points during the non-conference slate … Notched a non-conference season’s best 21 points and distributed a season-high 6 assists against New Mexico (Nov. 21) … Pumped home 21 points and swiped a season-high 4 steals versus SMU • Southern Methodist (Nov. 28) … Tallied another 21-point effort against San Francisco (Dec. 7) … Fired in 20 points during the Utah (Dec. 13) and Long Island (Dec. 16) contests … Dialed up 19 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting against Memphis (Dec. 20) … Ripped off double digit points in 13 of his 19 outings against SEC opponents … Started SEC action with a season-high 27 points with 5 assists at Texas (Jan. 3) … Poured in a bench watermark of 23 points with 4 assists at Missouri (Jan. 31) … Collected a solid all-around effort of 12 points, a career-best 7 rebounds and 3 assists during rivalry road win at Ole Miss (Feb. 14) … Came away with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists versus Georgia (March 7).
BEFORE STATE
2024-25: Epps collected 12.8 points, 2.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as a junior … Started in 22 of his 27 appearances … Connected on 39.3 percent from the floor (118-of-300), 34.4 percent from beyond the three-point line (53-of-154) and 75.0 percent on free throws (57-of-76) … Totaled 18 outings with 10+ points and reached the 20-point barrier on 5 occasions.
2023-24: Epps contributed 18.5 points, 4.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in his sophomore campaign ... Earned the starting nod in 28 of 29 games … Ranked among the BIG EAST’s top 10 in points (3rd) and assists (8th) … Converted on 39.2 percent from the field (177-of-452), 30.5 percent on three-pointers (64-of-210) and 76.3 percent from the charity stripe (119-of-156) … Pumped home 24 outings in double figures with 12 games of 20+ points.
2022-23: Epps notched 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game over his 31 appearances during his freshman season … The Fighting Illini posted a 20-13 record and made the 2023 NCAA Tournament … Started 10 of his last 12 appearances (Jan. 24-March 16) … Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 6) … Hit on 41.4 percent from the floor (111-of-268), 30.1 percent from three-point territory (37-of-123) and 77.8 percent on at the free throw line (35-of-45) … Captured 20 games with double-digit points with 1 outing of 20+ points.
BEST GAMES
2024-25: Epps started the season with 5 straight games of double-digit points (Nov. 6-23) wrapped up by a 23-point effort against Saint Francis (Nov. 23) … His season-high was 27 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting at Syracuse (Dec. 14) … Began BIG EAST play with 21 points and 3 steals versus Creighton (Dec. 18) … Provided 15 points apiece at Seton Hall (Dec. 22), at Villanova (Jan. 20) and at Butler (Feb. 15) … Amassed a BIG EAST season-high 22 points at Creighton (Feb. 23) … Chipped in 20 points against Villanova (March 4) during home finale.
2023-24: Epps’ top scoring efforts in non-conference action were a season-high 34 points versus Jackson State (Nov. 25), 31 points against American (Nov. 19) and 24 points versus TCU • Texas Christian (Dec. 2) during the BIG EAST/Big 12 Challenge … Put together a 16-game run of consecutive games with 10+ points (Nov. 11-Jan. 27) … Fired in 30 points with 5 assists against Seton Hall (Jan. 9) … Dialed up 32 points and dished out 11 assists at Xavier • Ohio (Jan. 19) for his first career double-double … Tacked on 26 points with 6 assists at Providence (Jan. 27) … Managed 31 points and 7 assists versus St. John’s (Feb. 21) … Exploded for a BIG EAST season’s best 33 points at DePaul (Feb. 24) … Capped season with another 30-point effort against Providence (March 13) at the BIG EAST Tournament.
2022-23: Epps reached double figures for the first time against Kansas City (Nov. 11) during his 2nd career game … Poured in a season’s best 21 points ignited by 5 three’s versus Monmouth (Nov. 14) … Secured a team-leading 14 points against No. 16 Virginia (Nov. 20) at Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas … Added 11 points versus Syracuse (Nov. 29) in ACC/Big Ten Challenge and 11 points during an overtime victory over No. 2 Texas (Dec. 6) at the Jimmy V Classic held inside Madison Square Garden in New York City … Tallied 15 points against No. 14 Wisconsin (Jan. 7) … Made his 1st Big Ten start and provided 14 points versus Ohio State (Jan. 24) … Ripped off 14 of his 16 points after halftime coupled with a season-high 5 assists at Iowa (Feb. 4) … Dialed up a Big Ten season’s best 17 points sparked by 4 triples against Minnesota (Feb. 20).
HIGH SCHOOL
Epps was a four-star recruit and ranked as a consensus top 100 player by all the major recruiting services … Rated No. 88 by ESPN for the Class of 2022 … Played his senior season at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina ... Averaged 18 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds … Combine won the 2022 Hoop State Championship and posted a 26-8 record … Selected to the 2022 Iverson Roundball Classic All-Star Game … Attended King’s Fork High School in Suffolk, Virginia … Did not have a junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Named 2020 Virginia High School Class 4A Player of the Year after he posted 26 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals per contest as a sophomore … Led King’s Fork to a 24-3 record and a share of the Class 4A state title … Played the AAU circuit for Team Loaded based in Virginia.
PERSONAL
Born on November 12, 2003 … Majoring in university studies and is on-track to graduate with his degree in Spring 2026.
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
Thursday, March 12
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Ja'Borri McGhee Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Sunday, March 08
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Saturday, March 07
