SLCC Honors NBA Star Gary Payton II and Retires His Jersey

Former Salt Lake Community College student-athlete and current NBA player Gary Payton II was honored during half time at the SLCC vs. Northwest basketball game on Friday night, December 2. Coaches, fans, players and SLCC leadership attended to celebrate and honor the retiring of Gary’s jersey, # 1. The jersey will memorialize Gary’s time here and be displayed from the rafters of the Bruin Arena.

The now-Portland Trail Blazer played for SLCC from 2012-14 before moving on to play at Oregon State University. One of the biggest highlights of his career was winning an NBA championship in 2022 with the Golden State Warriors, including scoring 15 points in a Game 5 win over the Boston Celtics.

"We are thrilled to honor Gary by retiring his jersey,” says Kevin Dustin, Salt Lake's Director of Athletics and Recreation. "Gary leads a long list of former Bruins who have gone on to successful careers at the Division-I level and beyond. His accomplishments on-and-off the court exemplifies the best of Bruin basketball.”

Gary’s path to the NBA started at SLCC, where he aimed to get his grades up in order to qualify for a Division I scholarship. “For basketball, SLCC was one of the best conferences to play in and a good opportunity from a basketball standpoint to gain recognition. And it worked,” says Gary. He said the support he received from teachers and his coaches, “just made it smooth” for his two years here, where he earned an associates degree in business.

While at SLCC, he helped lead the Bruins to two successful seasons before moving on to Oregon State. During his Bruin stint, he earned multiple awards including being named an NJCAA Second Team All-America player as a sophomore.

Even though his play at SLCC propelled him to the Pac-12, Gary says he was surprised by this honor. “I honestly didn’t feel like I played that well when I was here, but it was a dope experience with the group of guys and the coaches we had that first year,” recalls Gary. He said the team was a “strong brotherhood” of diverse players. “It was hard at first, but we all came together and figured it out.”

“I think Gary helped push SLCC to the next level where we became consistently a Top 10 program in the country,” stated former SLCC coach Todd Phillips. “His two years he helped SLCC go to back-to-back conference championships, and back-to-back national tournaments. Along the way he made SportsCenter’s ‘Top Ten’ and entertained fans everywhere he went.”

Comments

SLCC's Undergraduate Annual Research Conference Registration Deadline

Salt Lake Community College’s annual Undergraduate Projects, Performances, Presentations, and Research Conference (UP3RC) is set to take place on April 2, at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, offering students a chance to showcase their academic achievements, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange. The UP3RC is an annual event designed to celebrate and highlight the academic accomplishments of undergraduate students. It provides a supportive environment for students to share their work, hone their presentations skills, receive constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and faculty. All SLCC departments and programs, including faculty and staff, are encouraged to support and visit the day of the event. Students with their poster from last year's UPRC event “The goal of this event is to make sure every school and student is given the opportunity to participate,” says Dr. Kamal Bewar, interim director of the STEM Learning Center, who is chairin

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o

HB 261 and HB 257 Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students: The Utah Legislature recently passed two bills that significantly impact higher education: HB 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives and HB 257 Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities. Salt Lake Community College is deeply committed to our students, faculty, and staff. We strive to be a place where all are welcomed and respected. While there are many unknowns about the ultimate effect these bills will have on some student and staff support programs, be assured that SLCC will maintain an environment where all can find success and feel a sense of belonging. In the coming months, college leadership will work to gain clarity and determine the changes necessary for legislative compliance. We will also share this information as it becomes available. We realize that during this time, some in our college community may feel unsettled and stressed. We encourage you to make use of available SLCC resources designed to support y

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog