2026 NBA Draft preview: Dailyn Swain

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The 2026 NBA Draft will be conducted on Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24 at Barclays Center. The first round will begin on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Central with television coverage provided by ABC and ESPN. The second round is scheduled to start on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Central with television coverage provided by ESPN.

Former Longhorn Dailyn Swain is draft eligible and expected to be a first-round pick by most mock drafts.

Since 2000, UT has produced 10 lottery picks (a draft selection whose position is determined through the lottery) and 16 first-round selections. Those 10 lottery picks include LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 2 pick in 2006), Kevin Durant (No. 2 pick in 2007), Tristan Thompson (No. 4 pick in 2011), Tre Johnson (No. 6 pick in 2025), Mohamed Bamba (No. 6 pick in 2018), Chris Mihm (No. 7 pick in 2000), T.J. Ford (No. 8 pick in 2003), Jaxson Hayes (No. 8 pick in 2019), D.J. Augustin (No. 9 pick in 2008) and Myles Turner (No. 11 pick in 2015). Since 2004, a lottery pick has included the top 14 selections in the draft.

Since the NBA Draft began in 1947, a total of 50 Longhorns have heard their names called on draft night. Texas has produced a total of 20 first-round selections and 13 second-round picks in program history. UT has had 19 players drafted in the last 20 NBA Drafts, dating back to the 2006 Draft.

Swain spent one season at Texas (2025-26) and two years previously at Xavier (2023-25) before turning professional following his junior season. He played in 99 career games (72 starts) and recorded collegiate totals of 1,128 points, 545 rebounds, 254 assists and 142 steals. Swain converted 52.6-percent (399-758) from the floor and 81.5-percent (287-352) from the free throw line in his career. He reached double figures in scoring 58 times in his career, including thirteen 20-point efforts and two 30-point performances. Swain reached double digits in rebounds 11 times while recording 11 career double-doubles. He became just the third player in the last 20 years to post at least 10 points and three assists in each of his first six career NCAA Tournament contests, joining Derrick Rose (Memphis, 2008) and Marcus Carr (Texas, 2022-23).

In his junior season at Texas (2025-26), Swain was one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. He was tabbed SEC Newcomer of the Year, All-SEC Second Team by the league's coaches and first-team NABC All-Gulf District, Swain was the only player in a D1 major conference to lead his team in at least five different major statistical categories, as he paced the Longhorns in scoring (17.3 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (129), steals (59) and minutes (32.8 mpg).

Swain became just the third SEC player in the last 30 seasons to average at least 17.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 3.0 apg, joining Grant Williams (Tennessee, 2018-19) and Ben Simmons (LSU, 2015-16). He played and started all 36 games last year and hit 54.2-percent (214-395) from the floor and 81.5-percent (163-200) from the free throw line. Swain reached double digits in scoring in 33 of the 36 games, topped the 20-point mark 12 times, hit the 30-point mark twice and posted eight double-doubles.

In his four NCAA Tournament games last year while leading Texas to the Sweet 16, he registered a team-best 21 assists (5.3 apg). During SEC play, Swain 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. In conference play, he 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).

Most NBA Draft Lottery Picks by School since 2000

School	Number of Lottery Picks
Duke	25
Kentucky	24
Kansas	16
UConn	14
Arizona	12
North Carolina	12
TEXAS	10
Gonzaga	7

Most NBA Draft First-Round Picks by School since 2000

School	Number of First-Round Picks
Duke	39
Kentucky	39
North Carolina	26
Kansas	21
UConn	18
Arizona	17
UCLA	17
TEXAS	16
Michigan	13
Syracuse	13
Washington	13

Most Total NBA Draft Picks by School since 2000

School	Number of Total Picks
Kentucky	57
Duke	55
Kansas	35
UCLA	34
North Carolina	32
Arizona	31
UConn	29
TEXAS	23
Michigan State	22
Syracuse	22
Florida	21

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

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