Vol. 2 Iss. 20
July 2023
ournals J THE
C IT Y
Bountiful/West Bountiful
YOUR C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R
VIEWMONT GRAD BEST THREE-POINT SHOOTER IN SDSU HISTORY Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com
SAN DIEGO, Calif—It’s been a slam dunk for San Diego State University basketball player Mercedes Staples as she’s gone from helping her team at Viewmont High School reach the state championship to being the best three-point shooter in school history as an Aztec. She’s not just about sports though, Staples just finished her master’s in liberal arts and sciences at the school. “I got a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary public administration, communication and recreation administration,” said Staples. “I finished my master’s in liberal arts and science at San Diego State.” Staples graduated from Viewmont High in 2018 and was a star player there. “I’m pretty sure I beat every record for most points scored and I was 5A player of the year,” she said. “I loved high school. I committed to the University of Minnesota right out of high school and played for a year and a half then made a mid-year transfer and committed to San Diego State in 2020 and I’ve been there ever since for three and a half years.” She started getting offers in the ninth grade. “My senior year I was supposed to go to Clinton University but the coaches got fired right as I was going,” said Staples. “I reported to Minnesota a week later. I went on my senior trip, got back and flew to Minnesota.” It didn’t feel like the right fit there though, she said. “So half way through my sophomore year I ended up at San Diego State. I went from -50 degrees to 50 degrees in two days. I love it here.” Staples started playing competitively
when she was 7. “I would always play with my brother,” she said. “He was six years older. I was always in the background. I was kind of a tomboy so we’d play football in the backyard, go roller skating and hiking. I’d always have to find different ways to score. The reason my jersey is #12 is because that was his number. I wanted to be like him.” In junior high Staples played Jr. Jazz. “Then I started playing for Natalie Williams,” she said. “She’s a double sport Olympic gold medalist. She opened up her own Utah WBA team. She was a good mentor. I appreciate her a lot.” Staples has seen a lot of success during her college career as an Aztec. She averaged 10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 45.5 percent from three, which was a school record and fifth in the nation. She finished her SDSU career with a three-point percentage of 41.0, also a school record. “I was able to go to Houston and compete in the 3v3 championships and shoot in the three point competition for the final four as well,” Staples said. “It’s been a lot of fun.” Now she’s switched to the other side of the court. “I started a job here as creative director of recruiting and marketing for the women’s basketball team,” Staples said. “I want to give back a little of what I was given. Now I’m turning around and working for them.”l Mercedes Staples is the best three-point shooter in the history of San Diego State University for 2022-23. Courtesy photo
SENATE PRESIDENT JOINS UTAH DELEGATION TO UKRAINE Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com
LAYTON—Senate President Stuart Adams will never forget his experience in Ukraine visiting government officials and talking to the people. Adams was part of a state delegation that recently traveled to Ukraine with two missions – humanitarian and economic development. “I’ve never been prouder to be from Utah,” said Adams. “When we showed up in Ukraine we met with the U.S. Ambassador first. She said she wasn’t surprised that Utah would be the first state to show up. She knew how great Utah is.” Utah is recognized as the best spot for business, he said. “We’re number one in giving. Our capacity to give and our strong economy, they know that Utah leads the nation in both.” Adams said the delegation had two real missions, “The first is humanitarian. The effort was led by two humanitarian organizations, August Mission and To Ukraine With Love. August Mission received a donation of $20 million for clothing and bedding. The Malouf Foundation donated mattresses. Resources people need to survive.” To Ukraine With Love is building houses for those who lost theirs, he said. “They’ve built 120 homes but they’re on their way to building over a thousand homes. The money
for those homes is donated by Utah companies.” The second mission was to help Ukraine with economic development and military capacity, said Adams. “We’re giving them the expertise to help with the war. Defense companies help the economy with military expertise. Utah members of tech companies went on a trade mission with us and found multiple ways to partner with Ukrainian companies.” They hire tech engineers remotely, he said. “They continue to help the economy to keep it running and help win the war and help after the assistance runs out. If you give someone a job they don’t need assistance.” Adams said they met with all of the cabinet members. “When they met with us they were so impressed with the Utah delegation. They asked a group of us to stay and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.” The group also traveled in areas of Ukraine that had previously been occupied by Russian troops, he said. “We talked to the people and they told us what they (Russians) did. They shot men, women and children and dumped the bodies into mass graves. When the graves were excavated the bodies were unrecognizable. It reminded me of the Ho-
Senate President Stuart Adams meets with other state delegates and Ukrainian officials. Their mission was humanitarian and economic development. Courtesy photo
locaust.” They heard the stories of people in occupied Ukraine, said Adams. “They would require their kids to go to summer camp. They went but never came back. An organization has brought back about 100 kids that
have been kidnapped. Utah is helping with its children's justice expertise.” It was quite a trip, Adams said. “I cannot be prouder to be from Utah.” l
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