NEWBERRY — Newberry High School senior Zacharia Epps recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Erskine College.
Epps, who serves as point guard and forward for the Bulldogs, has been playing basketball since the seventh grade.
“Didn’t really play rec, I just went out there because the middle school coach asked me to go out there. I chose basketball more than any other sport because basketball is my favorite sport and it’s more challenging than softball,” Epps said.
Epps added she enjoys playing basketball because in basketball you have more than one job as opposed to softball where you play one position.
She said one of her favorite memories from playing basketball with the Bulldogs was with Assistant Coach Tonya Deese-Jeter.
“When Coach Jeter was like I’m too small to do a lot of stuff, but when she saw me actually play she saw that I could help out a lot with rebounds and stuff,” Epps said.
She also credited her Deese-Jeter and Head Coach Melissa Mendenhall with helping develop her into the player she is today, on and off the court.
Epps said she chose Erskine because it would go along with what she would like to do as a future career, which she said would be something within the medical field.
“Supposed to be majoring in health science and it would go well with what I want to be when I grow up,” she said.
Epps’s parents Shandrea and Elbert Epps said it was a good feeling seeing their daughter sign to continue her basketball career.
“I’m glad to see that somebody on the higher level believes in what she’s capable of doing on the court,” said Shandrea Epps.
When it came to choosing a school, Epps’ mother said she told her daughter to pick the school that was best for her.
With Epps now heading to Erskine, she said she will not have to worry knowing her daughter will be safe.
“I like the fact that it seemed to be a close knit community, the environment felt safe so I felt like I don’t have to worry as much,” she said.
Mendenhall also shared the excitement of seeing another one of her players continuing to play basketball in college.
“I’m excited that she did decide to play basketball in college, at first she was like ‘no, no I don’t know if I wanna play’ and I told her just go on the visit, see how you like it and let me know what you think,” she said. “I’m excited because I know she’ll be able to go to Erskine and help them on defense because of her speed and just her natural athletic ability. I know I’m gonna miss it here in Newberry more, though.”
Leave a Reply