Dailyn Swain Is Putting Texas on His Back - And the SEC Is Taking Notice
AUSTIN, Texas - A year after Tre Johnson lit up the hardwood with one of the most electric freshman seasons in Texas basketball history, the Longhorns have found their new engine - and his name is Dailyn Swain.
The junior forward has emerged not just as Texas’ most valuable player, but one of the most impactful all-around performers in the nation. Swain is leading the Longhorns in nearly every major category: scoring (17.5), rebounding (7.2), assists (3.4), and steals (1.8) per game. That’s not just versatility - that’s dominance.
And in SEC play? He’s taken it up another gear.
Through nine conference matchups, Swain is putting up 21.2 points, 7.7 boards, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game - all while shooting a blistering 60% from the field and 35.5% from deep. Those numbers don’t just pop; they speak to a player who’s in complete control of his game and thriving in the heat of conference competition.
At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, the Xavier transfer has been a matchup nightmare - too quick for bigs, too strong for wings. And while first-year head coach Sean Miller continues to search for consistency from the rest of the rotation, Swain has been the one constant. He’s not just holding the team together - he’s carrying them.
“There are so many good players on every team [in the SEC],” Miller said after Texas’ 79-69 win at Oklahoma on Saturday. “But there’s no player in the SEC that means more to his team than what Dailyn Swain means to us.
He’s played at an incredible level. When you look at just one area, you’re not going to do him justice as a player, because it’s every area.
I’m really proud of him.”
That praise isn’t just coach speak - it’s backed up by results. Swain has led Texas in scoring 11 times this season, including each of the last five games. He’s the reason the Longhorns are still in the thick of the NCAA Tournament conversation, even as they navigate the grind of SEC play with a 13-9 overall record and a 4-5 mark in the conference.
Much like Johnson did a year ago - a season that ended with him going No. 6 overall to the Washington Wizards - Swain is rising to the moment. But what makes his impact even more impressive is the context.
This isn’t a team stacked with star power. This is a group still trying to find its identity under a new coach, and Swain has become both the foundation and the spark.
He’s not just filling the stat sheet - he’s setting the tone. And if he keeps this up, Texas might just ride his shoulders all the way into March.