By Dustin Semore
FHU Information Director
As he looks to the 2024-25 campaign, head women’s basketball coach Joshua Epperson will do so with a pair of new helpers. Joining the staff as a graduate assistants are Samantha Russell and KJ White.
Russell finishes her career as a Bryan (Tenn.) College Lion where she was one of the top players. In her career, she amassed over 1,500 points and more than 600 rebounds. Russell was honored as a Third Team All-America selection in 2024 while also being the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year. She was honored as the AAC’s Newcomer of the Year in 2022 in addition to being an Academic All-American.
“I’m excited to take this position because I know I’m going to be apart of an environment that champions athletes, leadership, and empowerment,” said Russell. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to contribute and be a small part of such a successful program! I look forward to learning as much as I can from Coach Epperson and the rest of the staff during my time at Freed!”
“Samantha is a player that I have known since her days at Tellico Plains High School,” explained Coach Epperson. “Gaining a graduate assistant that is one of the top NAIA players in the country and led her college program to several conference championships be part of our program is huge for us as we obtain the big goals we have here. Excited for the Freed community and our players to get to know Samantha this coming year.”
A name that has been nearly synonymous with Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion basketball over the last five years has been KJ White. The Gibson County High School alumna collected over 1,300 points as a Lady Lion in addition to 500+ rebounds, 300+ assists, and 150+ steals. White was honored as the 2023-24 Mid-South Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. She helped the Lady Lions to a 2020 American Midwest Conference Championship and a 2023 Mid-South Conference Championship. The 2022-23 MSC Champion of Character has twice been on the preseason All-Conference watchlist and was on the Academic All-Conference Team four times.
“After 5 years of playing for the FHU women’s basketball program, I am excited to continue my work with the team from the sidelines,” said White. “I have developed as a player and as a person throughout my time here and am fortunate to get the opportunity to help current and future players do the same. At the same time, I’m excited to develop my skills as a coach to hopefully fill that role successfully in the future.”
Coach Epperson said, “We are thrilled to have KJ move to her new role as a Graduate Assistant. KJ loves this program and this school. She has given everything possible to make us all better over her last five years. After being such a great player for us we are excited for her to develop into a great coach. KJ will be working a great deal with our strength and conditioning program and be helping in the area of recruiting as well.”
