From Oakland, CA to Normal, IL

How many 5-foot-8-inch high school basketball players think they’re “league bound”? Several. How many of those same players actualize their dreams? Very few.

Zach Copeland is one of the chosen few.

Despite Copeland’s unconventional path, he eventually molded himself into the centerpiece of the Illinois State Men’s Basketball Team. However, his journey at ISU seemed to end as abruptly as it began. All due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“These are my last couple months of college,” Copeland says. “Our team was like a brotherhood so they’re like my family. I just miss them but there’s really nothing that you can do about it.”

Copeland reflected on the invaluable time he spent with his teammates and coaching staff with nostalgia in his voice. When competing, working out and traveling with your teammates on a daily basis for months at a time, they truly become your family. You often talk to and spend more time with them than your own blood relatives during the grind of the season – even in the offseason in some instances.

That family dynamic that Copeland was able to craft with his teammates was founded on hard work. Having a strong sense of family is something he was used to growing up. His cousin Micah Copeland, one of his closest family members, reminisces on growing up with him.

“His demeanor and passion was something I definitely looked up to. To see that he had that fire burning to go and grind to get what he really wanted, it stuck with me,” Micah said.

Zach grew up with Micah as well as Micah’s older brother, Mark Jr. in Oakland, California. Copeland spent most of his life in Oakland, before going to Salesian College Preparatory High School in Richmond, California.

After two years at Salesian and feeling unsatisfied with his ability to grow as a player there, he decided to transfer to Berkeley High School, a school just a 20-minute drive from Salesian. Copeland had two very successful years there. His senior season, he led his team deep into the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs during the 2014-15 season, where they lost to San Ramon Valley High School by a score of 68-53.

Upon graduating from Berkeley High School, Copeland was not content with any of his college offers.

“I always wanted to be a Division I player and make it to play on the highest level of college basketball. I knew that I was willing to grind as hard as possible to get there” he said.

So, he decided to begin his collegiate basketball career at The City College of San Francisco - where he quickly emerged as a star.

On an already star-studded roster that would go on to have several Division I players, Copeland came in and was immediately the team’s second leading scorer - as a freshman. He averaged 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal per game during his first season.

Copeland helped lead that CCSF team to a historic season. The Rams won 32 of their 33 games, notching a 23-game win streak along the way. Their team took pride in playing on their home court, as they went an undefeated 13-0 at home. As one might assume, based on all of these accolades, the Rams went on to win the State Championship for the 2015-16 season.

How does one outdo winning a State Championship while being the second leading scorer in their freshman season? For Zach Copeland, it was easy.

He averaged 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals - en route to winning the Coast Conference (North) League Most Valuable Player.

Although the Rams were unable to win back-to-back State Championships, they did make it to the second round of the statewide playoffs. Plus, Copeland had finally received the offer he felt would be the best fit for him in the process.

Once the season ended, he signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Illinois State University.

“It meant the world to me, man. This is my dream.”

You could hear the sincerity in his voice. After years of feeling under-appreciated on the court, he had finally received the validation of the perfect Division I offer for himself.

Similar to his career at CCSF, Copeland wasted absolutely no time as far as making an immediate impact. He averaged nine points, three assists, three rebounds and one steal per game. He felt poised to step into a primary role on a new team.

“It didn’t really feel new to me. I have usually been one of the best players on the teams I have played on in the past,” Copeland answered in a humbly, honest tone. “So once I was able to figure out the speed of higher level basketball, I wanted to be the very best.”

His senior season at ISU, he was the best.

He put up 16 points, three assists, three rebounds and one steal on a highly basis. Copeland even caught fire from three-point range so often during his senior season, that he tied the ISU school record for second all-time three-pointers made in a season for a senior.

He tied this record on Jan. 25, just one day before one of his favorite players, Kobe Bryant, passed away.

He finished the game with 24 points. 24 is the number Bryant wore for the second half of his career. He had made 81 three pointers on the season to tie the record. Kobe’s career-high was 81 points. Last but definitely not least, he is now No. 2 in the record books for the most three-pointers for a senior. Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, who passed away with her father, wore No. 2.

Some things in life are just meant to be. Copeland felt this was one of those times.

“It’s just crazy that I was able to end with 81 threes, tied for the No. 2 spot. It’s special. Rest in Peace to Kobe, GiGi and everyone involved who lost their lives.”

Part of the reason that Copeland has gotten to this point in his career is because he and others around him, make sure he is held to a standard that requires him to be special. His middle school basketball coach feels he was one of the first to witness just how talented he was.

Coach Mark Copeland Sr., also his uncle, recalls being blown away by how advanced Zach was at such a young age.

“He went through a lot of stuff, kept grinding and the summer between his seventh and eighth grade year,” Copeland Sr. added. “I knew he was going to be good because he was still growing. His work ethic plus his natural ability helped him rise above the level he was playing at. We expected this.”

No wonder it wasn’t a surprise for Copeland when he came to ISU and began breaking records. He was putting in work to relish this moment from the time he was just 11 years old. For him, he was just manifesting his dreams into reality.

Soon after tying this record, Copeland’s season and life would drastically change before his eyes.

The ISU Redbirds played their final game on Mar. 5 against Drake University in a losing effort. Copeland led his team to the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and although March Madness aspirations were bleak, they still had the comfort of one another. Copeland fears he may have experienced some lasts without even realizing.

“All of the times that we played together, had friendly competitions and got to trash talk each other, I’ll really miss that a lot.”

He’s had to come to terms with these unfortunate circumstances and find a way to move forward - like he always has. Upon completing his courses and graduating from ISU, Copeland is optimistic about his chances to make it to the National Basketball Association. A dream that once may have felt unattainable for a skinny, 5-foot-8-inch high school version of himself.

Copeland still works out consistently on ISU’s track and lifts weights in his apartment to stay ready during the pandemic. He’s already hired an agent, who is sure to promptly send him his daily workouts – every morning.

His agent had coordinated for Copeland to be in camps with the nation’s best seniors in front of NBA scouts, but the Coronavirus had other plans. However, he still believes that he is capable of making an NBA roster. If not, he knows that he can begin a basketball career abroad.

“I still think I’ll have a shot to prove myself and make an NBA team,” Copeland explained. “But in the worst case scenario, I’ll be overseas playing professionally somewhere.”

His worst case scenario is by far better than a lot of people’s best case scenarios. With that being said, he is excited to work hard enough to avoid that “worst case scenario” and earn his spot in the NBA.