SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster men's basketball team announced that Adam Rainbird has signed a Frontier Conference letter of intent to join the team in the fall of 2010. He becomes the first Westminster recruit to sign for next season.

Rainbird is a 6-4 guard from Blenheim, New Zealand. He attends Nelson Boys College where he averaged 21.5 points, eight rebounds, and five assists during his senior season. He shot 42% from beyond the arc and was selected to participate in the New Zealand High Schools 3-point competition. Rainbird was named the Marlborough Basketball and Nelson College Basketballer of the Year. He scored a career-best 64 points in a game against Richmind Academic.

"We are very excited that Adam chose to become a Griffin,” assistant coach Adam Hiatt said. “He is one of the best four-year recruits to have ever committed to us. He is extremely skilled for a young 18-year old player. We need and expect him to make an immediate impact on our team."

Rainbird also received several academic honors at Nelson College. He was a Nelson College Prefect and a Fell House Prefect in 2009. He was named to the Nelson College Leadership Programme while receiving academic colours. Rainbird graduated from school in November of 2009.

His father, Pat Rainbird, played for the New Zealand Senior Men's National team.

Westminster just completed the 2009-10 season with a 27-6 overall record. They won both the Frontier Conference regular season and tournament championships for a second consecutive season. The Griffins advanced to the round of 16 at the NAIA National Championships.