On b-ball, the ladies, surviving high school, defying stereotypes and letting off steam on the dance floor

FULL COURT PRESS: Orlando Riley and Marquis Eppinger (right) meet on the court to shoot some hoops before class.

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Dude, how tall are you?

“Honestly, I do not know. I believe I am 6’2” or maybe 6’3” with shoes on.”

Alright, but what is it that really makes you so good at basketball?

“Hard work … You have to want it more than anyone. Before I tore my ACL, I knew I wanted to do something with basketball, but in the end, it’s how you use it. Some people go for the NBA, but I used it to get into college. That’s where I wanna be.”

So what else are you passionate about? What really gets you going?

“I’m really passionate about audio/visual. I wanna do something with media and production or music and film when I get to college and become a production artist or producer—something in that field. Besides that, I wanna do something with engineering—that’s big for me. Something innovative, so I can leave a mark.”

What’s so awesome about audio/visual?

“It’s something I can be hands-on with. I think I found a passion for it when I came in, and there was so much going on. I got used to the camera a little bit, and I just kept working on more projects… I just fell in love.”

What kinds of opportunities have cropped up?

“I had an internship with Atlanta Football Insider. We film the games for APS and Dekalb County. And also, I actually did the basketball promo for our team. It showed me that I could put my best effort into something that I didn’t have a lot of experience with. Having my logo and being able to say, ‘I did this,’ was a really powerful thing. For me, it’s just tryin’ to find different media outlets to take on. I’m always lookin’ for something new to put my hands in.”

So what is it about engineering?

“I like cars! I don’t like trucks for some reason. You know I’m so big, and my mom says I’m too tall for it … but I want a low car—a Corvette. That’s my dream car. But engineers—they’re innovative. They come up with their own ideas and make things work. Being in the background and watching my operations come to life … I wanna see what I can do! Being innovative leaves a mark, and when you leave a mark, you have a legacy to leave behind.”

Why do you wanna leave a mark?

“Just to, ah, to feel important. Everybody has a sense of pride, and for me, it’s not really for myself, but for my family and the generations that come after me. I wanna leave something that people can use and learn from. I’ll be the stepping stone for someone else that comes along.”

You’re always diving into new things. What’s your support system?

“My support system? The three women in my life … my 3Ws, as I like to call them: my mom, sister and grandmother. My father’s never been in my life like that, but my mom? She’s always been there, and she never steers me in the wrong direction. She aims for me to push for something bigger. Everything’s always been, ‘Go for it!’ Then my sister keeps me grounded. She keeps me believing in myself. And my grandmother … she’s crazy, but she’s very loving and caring as well. I think that’s where I get my sense of care and love for everybody else. Since I’m so big, people think I’m an angry guy, but I’m quite funny actually.”

How else do you defy the norms?

“I like doing the things that people might not think I’d be able to do and things that they’d second guess. I was actually just thinking about that in my peer leadership group. We were talking with the kids about stereotypes. Black athletes are often thought of as not smart, but that’s not the case at all. I play basketball, but without my academics, I wouldn’t be where I am today. When you understand who you are, where you want to be in life, and what you stand for, then stereotypes can never really get to you.”

Can you tell me a little bit about your dad?

“He was incarcerated from my elementary years to 10th grade. We had a great relationship when I was younger, but when he left, things started falling apart. Our relationships just kinda broke down, and I was never really comfortable getting back to that father-son relationship. The last time I talked to him was about a year ago … and you know, he tries. But he tries to be more a friend than that figure I can look up to.  He’s always been more of my partner. But I don’t need you to be my partner. I need you to be my friend at times, but I need you to be my parent most of the time.”

How did that impact your childhood growing up?

“I don’t think it has impacted me a lot. It’s weird to say that a mother can be a mom and a father, but she really can. She’s a soldier, and I love her for that. I’m really blessed to have her leading me in the right direction.”

Speaking of relationships … Someone might have mentioned that you’re a hopeless romantic. Care to comment?

“I have no clue, honestly. I don’t know what people call me, but I’m just Marquis. You know? My size does not—I’m like a big ol’ teddy bear.”

Do you have someone in your life right now?

“I do! I do. I’ve got a … a thing. A thing-thingy. It’s goin’ pretty well.”

What’s been the most rewarding part of high school?

“Memories. Just being able to look back and see all that we went through from ninth grade to our 12th-grade year! It’s been … something. Now that we’re graduating, we can finally say we made it through—through the hard times and the days we didn’t think this sh*t was ever gonna end.”

I also heard that you’ve got the moves, Marquis …

“I do have the dance moves! I do. And I feel great … I feel amazing when I dance. When I was younger, I wanted to be a choreographer. It’s something I love as much as basketball, actually. It’s another way for me to express emotions—to let off steam and just feel good. I love music, and dancing has been a tool for me to say, ‘OK Marquis, it’s cool,’ and express who I am.”

Wow. And where did that passion come from—music and dance?

“My mother. She’s actually a great singer. I guess watching her a lot … I can’t sing, like, at all. But I think the love and passion for music—being able to see it in other people—came from everything she does with music.”

Last question, and then I’ll let you go … favorite food?

“From Mellow Mushroom: cheese, mushroom, and hamburger. I love that crust. Mmmmmmm. With some ginger ale? That’s it. That’s my favorite dish.”