Blue Cain

Blue Cain
Cain in 2024
No. 0 – Georgia Bulldogs
PositionShooting guard
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2004-09-25) September 25, 2004 (age 20)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeGeorgia (2023–present)

Christopher Blue Cain (born September 25, 2004) is an American college basketball player for the Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[1]

Early life and high school

[edit]

Christopher Blue Cain was born on September 25, 2004. Growing up, his hometown was Knoxville, Tennessee, where he first attended Knoxville Catholic High School. At Knoxville Catholic, Cain played basketball from his freshman to his junior year.

As a freshman, Cain averaged 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 steals, which helped Knoxville Catholic obtain a 25–4 record and win the Tennessee Division II-AA state championship. Cain's statistics in all four categories increased as a sophomore, with him averaging 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals, although Knoxville Catholic posted a 21–4 record and was eliminated in the semifinals of the state tournament. In his junior year, Cain averaged the most points he would in a year at Knoxville Catholic with 19.7 and led them to a career-best 28–4 record, finishing as the runner-up in the state tournament. In total, Cain compiled 1213 points, 400 rebounds, 253 assists, and 191 steals and led Knoxville Catholic High School to a 74–12 record over three years.[2]

Before his senior year, Cain transferred to play basketball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[3] In his lone year at IMG Academy, Cain averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. In the quarterfinals of the GEICO National Tournament, Cain hit a spinning half-court buzzer-beater to win the game over Prolific Prep.[4] IMG Academy finished with an 18–8 record and made it to the semifinals of the GEICO National Tournament, and was also ranked number 9 in ESPN's SCNext national boys’ basketball rankings.

Recruiting

[edit]

In high school, Cain was rated as a four-star recruit. He was ranked No. 53 by ESPN, No. 69 by 247Sports Composite and No. 94 by Rivals. Cain originally chose to sign with Georgia Tech under coach Josh Pastner.[5] However, Pastner was fired before the 2023–24 season and replaced by Damon Stoudamire, causing Cain to de-commit from Georgia Tech.[6] Instead, Cain signed with in-state rival Georgia under coach Mike White[7] over teams such as South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Penn State, and Virginia.[8] Cain cited his relationship with the coaching staff at Georgia as the primary factor for committing there, saying, "It just felt like home."[9]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Blue Cain
#10 SG 		Knoxville, TN IMG Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 194 lb (88 kg) May 3, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 94  247Sports: 69  ESPN: 53
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Georgia 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  • "2023 Georgia Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.

College career

[edit]

Cain came into Georgia as the highest-rated freshman recruit for the Bulldogs since Anthony Edwards during the 2019–20 season.[10] In his college debut, Cain scored 12 points with 2 rebounds and 3 assists against Oregon.[11] As a freshman, Cain recorded games with 18 points against Miami[12] and Alabama A&M.[13][14] On March 13, Cain scored a career-high 19 points in a win against Missouri in the first round of the 2024 SEC men's basketball tournament.[15] Cain started 9 out of his 37 games played, averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.

Personal life

[edit]

Cain is the son of Chris and Myriah Cain. Chris played golf at Duke, from where he decided to give his son the middle name Blue after Duke's blue colors.[16] Myriah played women's basketball at George Washington and is in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Cain's sister Sophie plays volleyball for Appalachian State.[17][18]

Career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Georgia 37 9 20.8 .404 .350 .667 2.5 .8 .8 .2 7.4

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Blue Cain". ESPN. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Former Knoxville Catholic basketball star Blue Cain commits to Georgia". Knoxville News. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  3. ^ "Blue Cain, Knoxville Catholic basketball star, transferring to IMG Academy for 2022–23". Knoxville News. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Look: Blue Cain's improbable game-winner sends IMG Academy to GEICO National semifinals". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "Blue Cain signs letter-of-intent with men's basketball". Ramblin Wreck. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "Former Georgia Tech signee Blue Cain commits to Georgia". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Blue Cain becomes UGA's fourth top-100 signee". Georgia Dogs. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Blue Cain timeline events". 247 Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  9. ^ "Blue Cain on committing to Georgia: "It just felt like home"". USA Today. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "4-star shooting guard Blue Cain commits to Georgia". Red and Black. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "Georgia falls to Oregon in season opener, 82–71". Georgia Dogs. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Georgia basketball freshmen shine, can't overcome No. 12 Miami's heat in 79–68 loss". Dawg Nation. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "Cain scores 18 in UGA's victory vs. Alabama A&M". SEC Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Blue Cain Leads Georgia Over Alabama A&M, 93–73". Albany Herald. 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  15. ^ "Mizzou left feeling blue as Cain, Bulldogs end Tigers' rough season in SEC Tournament". KOMU. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Blue Cain ready to show he's got more than just an unusual first name". UGA Rivals. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "Blue Cain, former Catholic star, thriving at Georgia 'playing against the best'". Knoxville News. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  18. ^ "Men's Basketball Roster". Georgia Dogs. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
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