With it unclear how the Arizona Wildcats will fare in all sports during their first year in the Big 12 Conference, the coaches in charge of their programs have taken different approaches to preparing for this new era.

A prerequisite for long-term success is recruitment at a high level.

Signing top players in any sport inevitably improves the outlook for what can be accomplished, and with Arizona dealing with new schools on a regular basis for the first time, getting off to a good start is essential when it comes to making major commitments.

While football and men’s basketball get the most attention and coverage, the women’s basketball team is likely to attract a lot of attention in the search for players.

The Wildcats made the top school lists for several elite players in the class of 2025 and received more good news: Four-star winger Nina Cain is the latest talent in this cycle to land Arizona in their top four.

According to Talia Goodman of On3, the other schools involved are California, Northwestern and Washington.

“It’s about the people I’m committing to. I want to have a strong bond and relationship with the people I’m playing for – that’s really important to me… These four visits are really going to be crucial to my decision,” the California native told Goodman.

Cain has already visited Northwestern and Washington and is scheduled to travel to California on August 30 before heading to Arizona for the final round on September 5.

“I love Arizona. My experience with them has been just wonderful. I also love the coaching staff there. I have a really strong connection with them and they have that with my family as well. I was there almost a year ago and my whole family was there. The love they showed me and my family made us feel very welcome,” she said when asked about the Wildcats.

The fact that Arizona will be the last school they visit before making their decision should help them build on the work they have already done and make a strong case for their commitment.