Makayla Epps with UK coaches at the 2025 Big Blue Madness. (Vicky Graff Photo)
In her first year as head coach for the Marion County girls team, Makayla Epps experienced something new — an 11-15 losing record.
“It felt like I lost more games than I had in my life. It was hard on me. I am a competitor. I am trying to get that killer mentality to rub off on my kids because it is a lost art. I feel this generation as a whole is soft and we have to get back to playing with more nitty-gritty to be good,” said Epps.
“I still had a blast coaching. We were not the most talented team in the region. We are still learning and growing and we are going to keep competing.”
Playing hard — or with “nitty gritty” was never a problem for Epps.
Epps played for Marion County from 2007-2013 and scored 3,321 points and amassed 839 assists. The Knights won four straight 5th Region titles from 2010-13. Marion made the state semifinals in 2011, reached the state title game in 2012 and then had a perfect 39-0 state championship season in 2013. Marion had a combined record of 133-14 in Epps’ final four seasons. She was named Kentucky Miss Basketball in 2013 and a McDonald’s All-American.
Epps is also now a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. She is part of the 2026 induction class. She was already in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame after scoring 1,790 points for the Cats and earning all-Southeastern Conference honors three times.
“I just kind of assumed I would eventually be going into the high school hall of fame after going into my college hall of fame,” she said. “But this is special. Marion County is who I am through and through. I grew up with nothing but a basketball and a dream. This has all surpassed my dreams.
“I went to the state tournament all four years (in high school) and that is incredible. Each year we got one step closer to the state championship and then finally got it my senior year. I just trusted the process.”
Despite her collegiate and professional success, the 30-year-old Epps constantly thinks about her Marion County career.
“I played for seven years. My very first game was against Danville. I still remember that. Now to be back home coaching is kind of unreal. My Dad (former UK guard Anthony Epps) coached the boys team for a bit at Marion. Then he swapped for the girls. Now I am the girls coach.
“My high school jersey is hanging in the Roby Dome. My Gatorade Player of the Year banner is there along with my McDonald’s All-American banner. It’s just crazy now to think about me going in the KHSAA Hall of Fame. I never worried about it but when someone texted me to tell me and congratulate me on being selected it was special.”
It is even more special because her father, Anthony, was inducted in the KHSAA Hall of Fame in 2022. He also led Marion County to a state championship and then was the starting point guard on UK’s 1996 national championship team.
“I am extremely proud of her for all her accomplishments. The UK Hall of Fame and now this is just icing on the cake for everything she has done. All earned and well deserved,” Anthony Epps said about his daughter’s selection.
Makayla Epps was part of this season’s Big Blue Madness at Kentucky and Epps appreciated Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks including her.
“Coach Brooks is my guy now. I didn’t know him personally before, but he coached one of my WNBA teammates at James Madison. I always thought he was a great coach and for Kentucky to land him was big for us. Our program needed a culture change, and he is the perfect guy for the job.
“I have been to some games and have made relationships with all of his staff. I really appreciate the way they have looked out for me. They didn’t have to do that.”
