Avary Cain to UCLA: Bruins add California high school star to strong 2024 class

St. Joseph guard is one of the top returning high school players in California

One of the top high school basketball recruits in California is taking her talents close to home.

St. Joseph High School (Santa Maria, California) guard Avary Cain announced her commitment to UCLA on Thursday, sending a third blue chip 2024 prospect to the Bruins. 

The 6-foot-1 Cain is a five-star and the No. 20 prospect in the nation according to ESPN's HoopGurlz recruiting rankings and joins Sidwell Friends (D.C.) forward Kendall Dudley (No. 15) and Finnish guard Elina Aarnisalo, a top international prospect. Dudley committed in April and Aarnisalo in early May.

In Cain, the Bruins are getting a well-rounded off-ball guard whose decorated high school career at St. Joseph took off as an underclassman.

The SBLive California All-State honorable mention pick led St. Joseph to a 26-5 record and top three finish in the CIF Central Section, averaging 21.1 points, seven boards, 3.5 steals and 2.8 assists per game as a junior to build on a stellar sophomore season.

She led St. Joseph to the CIF Open Division semifinals and was an SBLive All-Central Section first team selection as a sophomore.

Her scoring comes from all over. As a 3-point shooter, Cain was 38 percent on the season and 48 percent from the field overall. 

St. Joseph's went 26-5 and swept the Central Coast-Mountain League (14-0) in 2022-23.

UCLA is coming off of a 27-10 season that included a fourth place Pac-12 finish (11-7) and ended in the Sweet 16.