UCLA Women's Basketball: Bruins Sign Elite 2024 Recruiting Class
UCLA Bruins women's basketball head coach Cori Close has a reputation for being an ace recruiter -- and this year is no different.
On Thursday, UCLA announced the signing of four ladies to the class of 2024. They include Finnish guard Elina Aarnisalo, California native Avary Cain, and high school teammates Kendall Dudley and Zania Socka (both from Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda, Maryland).
Despite still being a teenager, Aarnisalo is a member of the Finland National Team. She also has been playing professionally in Belgium, where her more impressive traits include three-point shooting and dishing the rock. At 5'10", she'll add some depth and talent to the backcourt.
Cain is the only California native in this class. ESPN's 2024 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings has Cain ranked as a 5-star prospect (No. 24 nationally). At 6'1", she brings some terrific height to the guard position.
According to Close's press release, she calls Cain "a high-level, impact player" who will "make an immediate impact with her length and athleticism as a defender."
Socka -- also a 5-star prospect -- was ranked by ESPN as the No. 27 prospect nationally in her class. The 6'3" athlete is a versatile player having the ability to play both on the perimeter and in the paint.
Close had this to say about the East Coast native:
"Zania Socka might understand the mission of our program better than anyone in the class. The reason she was so committed to UCLA was because of our commitment to service in the community -- she already has a foundation for women in West Africa, how impressive is that for someone at 17 years old?"
- Close on 5-star signee Zania Socka
Lastly, there's Dudley -- the potential jewel in what's regarded as one of the best recruiting classes in America.
Reuniting with her high school teammate Socka, Dudley is an elite 6'2" scorer. Ranked No. 13 nationally by ESPN, she's a battle-tested player with a very well-rounded game. This sentiment was echoed by Close in her press release:
"Every time you watch her play, she makes everyone around her better. Kendall is a great, versatile player -- she can play multiple positions, she can guard multiple spots. She's a great slasher, a great defender, she gets to the free throw line, and she's a really good rebounder. Her offensive skillset is going to continue to go through the roof because she also has elite work ethic."
-- Close on 5-star signee Kendall Dudley
For as impressive as this class already is, the Bruins might not be done.
UCLA is right in the thick of things for Kennedy Smith -- the No. 6 overall prospect in the class of 2024. Smith hails from Etiwanda High School -- a powerhouse Southern California program roughly an hour from UCLA's campus.
She's reportedly narrowed her focus to UCLA, Duke, Louisville, USC, and South Carolina.
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