Preseason All-American Honors for Epps and Akhator
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Photo: UK Athletics[/caption]
Sporting News released its preseason awards today and two UK Hoops players made the list. Makayla Epps and Evelyn Akhator were both listed as preseason All-Americans. Epps was listed as a first-team All-American, while Akhator was listed on the third-team.
This is the second preseason All-American list that Epps has been a part of, as she made second-team honors in Athlon Sports' preseason awards a few weeks back.
Personally, I would say Epps is about as deserving as anyone to be listed as an All-American. Just watching Matthew Mitchell and the Cats play would show you how important to the team that she is. Epps does a little bit of everything for the Cats, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Last season, Epps averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
All of that for Epps is no knock on Akhator. She is a force down low for the Cats and a rebounding machine. At 6'3", she is the tallest player on the team. Last season, Akhator scored 11.5 points and pulled down 9.3 rebounds last season. UK Hoops will definitely be relying on her to carry the load in the paint this season.
With all of the negative we heard about the UK Hoops program in the offseason, it is great to hear that the players who remain will be some of the best in the country. Along with that, the Sporting News also ranked the Wildcats as No. 10 in their preseason poll. High expectations for Matthew Mitchell's squad is a bit surprising given all that has happened, but it makes me way more excited about basketball season to say the least.
Photo: UK Athletics[/caption]
Sporting News released its preseason awards today and two UK Hoops players made the list. Makayla Epps and Evelyn Akhator were both listed as preseason All-Americans. Epps was listed as a first-team All-American, while Akhator was listed on the third-team.
This is the second preseason All-American list that Epps has been a part of, as she made second-team honors in Athlon Sports' preseason awards a few weeks back.
Personally, I would say Epps is about as deserving as anyone to be listed as an All-American. Just watching Matthew Mitchell and the Cats play would show you how important to the team that she is. Epps does a little bit of everything for the Cats, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Last season, Epps averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
All of that for Epps is no knock on Akhator. She is a force down low for the Cats and a rebounding machine. At 6'3", she is the tallest player on the team. Last season, Akhator scored 11.5 points and pulled down 9.3 rebounds last season. UK Hoops will definitely be relying on her to carry the load in the paint this season.
With all of the negative we heard about the UK Hoops program in the offseason, it is great to hear that the players who remain will be some of the best in the country. Along with that, the Sporting News also ranked the Wildcats as No. 10 in their preseason poll. High expectations for Matthew Mitchell's squad is a bit surprising given all that has happened, but it makes me way more excited about basketball season to say the least.
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