Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Davenport senior Tennessee Rainwater (seated, middle) signs his letter of intent to hoop for Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah Friday, April 21.
DAVENPORT - Tennessee Rainwater has found his college home. The senior who was the best player on the state championship boys basketball team announced his commitment to the Utah Tech Trailblazers Wednesday, April 19.
Rainwater, who received two Division I offers, chose the Trailblazers of the Western Athletic Conference over Idaho State of the Big Sky. He made his decision shortly after visiting Utah Tech in St. George last weekend.
"It was a beautiful campus with great weather," Rainwater said. "It was a place where I felt valued, which was a big deal to me."
Rainwater will play for head coach Jon Judkins, the winningest coach in Utah collegiate basketball history.
The Trailblazers first reached out to Rainwater last summer. His recent visit was his first to the St. George campus formerly known as Dixie State.
"They have a lot of great resources," Rainwater said. "The dorms were great. I'll be rooming with two other freshmen."
He said he was able to watch Utah Tech play multiple times this season and has communicated with fellow freshmen through text.
"They have pretty much everything you need up there," Rainwater said.
Rainwater helped lead the Gorillas to a state championship in his senior season, averaging 28.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals a game.
He credited head coach Matt Henry with helping to promote him when college coaches would reach out inquiring about the Seattle-area native and the school district with allowing him to get in extra work before and after school.
Rainwater and his family considered a transfer to Gonzaga Prep prior to his senior season in order to broaden his exposure to Division I programs, but he ultimately decided to stay in Davenport. The reason was simple: for a goal the team ended up accomplishing.
"I was looking into (transferring)...but I wanted to win a state title," Rainwater said. "I wanted to be able to ball out and have fun with my guys."
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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