The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men’s Basketball’s Swain named one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award
03.11.2026 | Men's Basketball
Junior Dailyn Swain is a contender for the award that recognizes the top small forward in men’s college basketball.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — University of Texas junior guard/forward Dailyn Swain has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 Julius Erving Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday. Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 17-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor now in its 12th year recognizes the top small forward in Division I men's college basketball.
In addition to Swain, the five finalists for this year's Julius Erving Award include: A.J. Dybantsa (BYU), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State) and Nate Ament (Tennessee). This marks the second-straight year that Texas has had a player named as a finalist for one of the Naismith positional awards, as Tre Johnson was a finalist for the Jerry West Award (top shooting guard) in 2025.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting starting on Friday, March 13 at Noon CT at the following web site: www.hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Julius Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Julius Erving Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2026 Erving Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.
Earlier this week, Swain became the first player in program history to earn SEC Newcomer of the Year honors and the fourth individual in school history to claim conference Newcomer of the Year accolades. Swain joins a distinguished group of Texas players to earn league Newcomer of the Year honors. Travis Mays (1987), Lance Blanks (1989) and B.J. Tyler (1992) garnered Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year accolades.
During UT's first 31 games (31 starts) this season, Swain leads the team in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (104, 3.4 apg), steals (55, 1.8 spg) and minutes (32.0 mpg) while hitting 55.4-percent (191-345) from the floor and 80.7-percent (138-171) from the free throw line. Per ESPN Research, he is currently the ONLY player in a Major Conference to lead his team in at least FIVE major statistical categories. Cameron Boozer (Duke) leads his team in four major stat categories through games of March 8.
Swain has reached double digits in scoring in 28 of the first 31 games, topped the 20-point 11 times, hit the 30-point mark twice and posted seven double-doubles this season. In SEC play, he averaged 19.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.8 spg in 34.2 mpg while hitting 54.9-percent (117-213) from the floor, including a 38.5-percent (20-52) mark from three-point range, and 82.5-percent (99-120) from the free throw line. He topped the 20-point mark nine times and the 30-point mark twice while posting five double-doubles in his 18 league games.
In conference play, Swain ranked eighth in scoring, third in rebounding, fourth in field goal percentage, tied for ninth in free throw percentage, fifth in steals and tied for second in defensive rebounds (6.33 rpg). He claimed SEC Co-Player of the Week honors on Feb. 16, was named to the six-person Southwest Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team and garnered All-SEC Second Team accolades.
Texas (18-13, 9-9 SEC) is the No. 10 seed in the upcoming SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. The Longhorns will open play in a First Round contest against No. 15 seed Ole Miss on Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. Central (SEC Network).
