Jayden Epps has become the latest player to enter the NCAA transfer portal and has committed to Mississippi State, joining fellow transfers such as UAB guard Ja’Borri McGhee, Wichita State center Quincy Ballard, Arizona State forward Amier Ali, and Kansas State forward Achor Achor. Bulldog head coach Chris Jans has guided the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, but this marks the second year in a row he has had to revamp his roster. The only significant contributors returning are Shawn Jones and possibly Josh Hubbard, who declared for the NBA draft but retains his college eligibility.
Epps, originally from Norfolk, Virginia, played his high school basketball at Combine Academy in North Carolina. He was rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports, earning a score of 95 and attracting major offers from schools like Kansas, UConn, and Florida, but ultimately chose to sign with Illinois. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound guard had a solid freshman year, participating in 31 games with 11 starts and averaging 24.6 minutes per game.
During his time at Illinois, he averaged 9.5 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game, shooting 41% from the field and 30% from three-point range. Despite a promising start, Epps decided to transfer and ended up at Georgetown. There, he took on a larger role, starting 28 of 29 games, logging an impressive 34.8 minutes per game. He elevated his stats to an average of 18.5 points, 1.2 steals, 4.2 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game while maintaining a 39% shooting rate from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. Epps distinguished himself in the Big East Conference, finishing third in league scoring and reaching double figures 24 times, including seven games with 30 or more points.
In his most recent season, Epps’ numbers dipped slightly, as he played 27 games and started 21, averaging 30.6 minutes per game. He concluded the season with averages of 12.8 points, 1.4 steals, 2.3 assists, and 2.1 rebounds, shooting 39% from the field and a career-high 34% from three-point range.
Since entering the portal, Epps has received a grade of 93 from 247Sports, ranking him as the tenth-best combo guard and awarding him a four-star rating. His addition is a significant win for the Bulldogs, providing them with a proven scorer at the major college level, whether alongside Hubbard or on his own. Coach Jans has blended young talent with experienced players in this transfer class, and Epps stands out as the most notable addition. What initially appeared to be a challenging situation is shaping up nicely as Mississippi State aims to assemble another NCAA tournament-caliber roster.
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