Texas standout Dailyn Swain is a Julius Erving Award finalist after leading the Longhorns in five major stats while averaging 17.7 points and 7.5 rebounds.
The Texas Longhorns have a legitimate star on their hands, and the national spotlight is starting to match the production.
Texas forward Dailyn Swain has been named a finalist for the 2026 Julius Erving Award, one of college basketball’s most prestigious honors recognizing the top small forward in Division I.
For Swain, the recognition is simply the latest milestone in a season where he has done just about everything for Texas.
The junior guard/forward has been the engine behind the Longhorns’ success, leading the team in five major statistical categories.
Through 31 games this season, Swain has averaged 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while shooting an impressive 55.4 percent from the field and 80.7 percent from the free throw line.
According to ESPN research, Swain is currently the only player in a major conference leading his team in at least five major categories, a stat that highlights just how complete his game has become.
His impact has been undeniable. Swain has scored in double figures in 28 of Texas’ 31 games, topped the 20-point mark 11 times, and reached 30 points twice.
He has also posted seven double-doubles, proving he’s as dangerous on the glass as he is on the scoreboard.
During SEC play, Swain elevated his game even further. He averaged 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor.
He also knocked down 38.5 percent of his 3-point attempts and remained automatic from the line at 82.5 percent.
Those performances helped Swain earn SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, making him the first Longhorn ever to win that award in the SEC era.
Now Swain is competing with elite talent for the Julius Erving Award, including A.J. Dybantsa (BYU), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State) and Nate Ament (Tennessee).
With fan voting opening soon and the postseason approaching, Swain’s dominant all-around play has already cemented his place among the most impactful players in college basketball this season.