ATHENS — The Georgia Bulldogs on Wednesday won the sweepstakes for Blue Cain, a 4-star shooting guard out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Cain, who hails from Knoxville, Tennessee, signed with Georgia Tech last fall, but asked to be released from his letter-of-intent after coach Josh Pastner was fired by the Yellow Jackets. He also considered Florida, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia.
White, assistant coach Erik Pastrana and recruiting director Charles Mann all responded on social media after Cain made his announcement Wednesday afternoon. Pastrana’s was the best:
🔵 ✔️ #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/VpcGxZ1OYX
— Erik Pastrana (@ErikPastrana) May 3, 2023
Blue actually is Cain’s middle name. His father, Chris, played golf at Duke, and that’s apparently the origin of the name.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Cain is the nation’s 74th-ranked recruit for the 2023 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite. He gives the Bulldogs and second-year coach Mike White six top-100 prospects in what so far is a seven-player class. Georgia returns only five players from last season’s 16-16 team and has room to sign at least one more player.
Cain is the fourth high school prospect to join the Bulldogs’ ranks, along with 6-4 point guard Silas Demary, 6-5 guard Mari Jordan of Norcross and 6-8 forward Dylan James of Winter Haven, Florida. Three other players are coming via the transfer portal: 7-footer Russel Tchewa (South Florida), 6-7 guard RJ Melendez (Illinois) and 6-9 forward Jalen DeLoach (Virginia Commonwealth).
Cain played at Knoxville Catholic before transferring to IMG for his senior season. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game at the famous South Florida sports-preparatory boarding school. As a junior, Cain averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals for the Fighting Irish while playing alongside current Tennessee freshman B.J. Edwards.
UGA HOOPS ROSTER 2023-24
Returnees:
1. G Jabri Abdur-Rahim, 6-8, 210, Sr.
2. G Jusuan Holt, 6-7, 190, Jr.
3. C Frank Anselem, 6-10, 215, Sr.
4. G Justin Hill, 6-0, 185, Sr.
5. F M-A Moncrieffe, 6-8, 215, Sr.
Transfers:
1. C Russel Tchewa, 7-0, 280 (USF)
2. G RJ Melendez, 6-7, 205 (Illinois)
3. F Jalen Deloach, 6-9, 215 (VCU)
Freshman signees:
1. SG Blue Cain, 6-4, 180, Knoxville, Tennessee (IMG Academy)
2. PG Silas Demary, 6-4, 180, Charlotte, North Carolina (Combine Academy)
3. F Dylan James 6-8, 195, Winter Haven, Florida
4. G Mari Jordan 6-5, 185, Norcross
Walk-ons:
G Brandon Klatsky 6-2, 165
F Jaden Newell 6-8, 220
