A 5'11" point guard, Copeland grew up in Tennessee and attended Bradley Central High School.
[1] In his senior season he averaged 26 points and 10 assists per game in leading the team to a 29–3 record.
[2] Copeland had only played in 13 games that year, starting one, and averaged fewer than three points per contest.
[2] Copeland had to sit out one season per NCAA by-laws, but after waiting he was able to suit up for the Chattanooga Mocs.
[3] In 1993–94 he averaged 20.1 points per game, earned First Team All-Conference honors, and was named the co-SoCon Player of the Year as well as the SoCon Tournament MVP.