Through the first few months of the college basketball season, Dailyn Swain has been a bright spot for the Texas Longhorns. The Ohio native joined the Longhorns out of the transfer portal and has been their best scorer.
On Wednesday, Swain was rewarded for his efforts when he was named one of the top 10 midseason candidates for the 2026 Julius Erving Award. Each year, the award is given to the best small forwards in the country. In 23 games this season, Swain is averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game. He also made a difference on the boards, averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, and set his teammates up for success, averaging 3.4 assists per game. Regardless of the situation, Swain has found a way to make an impact every time he stops on the court.
While Swain has filled up the stat sheet, his greatest contribution has been his ability to score in bunches. The former Xavier star has scored in double digits in 20 games this season. He has also reached the 30-point mark twice and recorded five double-doubles. In conference play, Swain has helped Texas hold its own while averaging 21.3 points per game.
As Swain tries to lead Texas on a deep playoff run, he will also be keeping an eye on how voting for the Julius Erving Award plays out. The field will be narrowed down to five finalists in mid-March. A few weeks later, a winner will be crowned in late March or early April.
At the moment, Swain’s competition includes nine other players. While the Longhorns junior will need to build on his stellar play to set himself apart, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Against SEC teams, Swain is averaging 7.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 59.5 percent. That has helped the Longhorns beat ranked teams such as Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Alabama.
With the regular season far from over, Swain has plenty of time to build a case that voters can’t overlook as his unforgettable 2025-2026 campaign continues.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Basketball’s Dailyn Swain earns national recognition
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
