Xavier Forward Follows Sean Miller to Texas

After only a week in Austin, Sean Miller has already brought one of the top transfers to Texas. Miller brought in one of his former Xavier stars, Dailyn Swain, who committed to play for Texas on Tuesday. After a few players from Xavier entered the transfer portal, Swain may be the first of several players from Xavier to join up with Miller in Texas. So, what does Swain bring to the Longhorns? Will Texas be a serious contender in the stacked SEC? What other positions do the Longhorns need?

Xavier Forward Dailyn Swain Follows Sean Miller to Texas

What Does Dailyn Swain Bring to Texas?

Swain may not be the best player in the class, but he brings a lot of talent to the Longhorns. The sophomore averaged 11 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Xavier played at a frantic pace this season, but Swain thrived in his second year in the system. He protected the ball well, only turning the ball over 1.6 times per game. He also shot an impressive 53% from the field. Swain may not have been the superstar this past season, but a 27-point outing against Illinois in the NCAA Tournament showed the potential he could bring in his junior season.

Swain was impressive on the defensive end, averaging 1.6 steals per game. The only gap he has in his game is a three-point shot. He only shot 25% on the season, but he did improve from 15.4% in his freshman year. Overall, the strides Swain made throughout his first two years at Xavier will likely bolster a Texas squad looking to leap in Miller’s first year.

What Other Positions Will Texas Need?

The biggest positional need for the Longhorns revolves around replacing Tre Johnson, the star freshman who seems almost certain to leave for the NBA. Key guards, like Adrian Wooley, who transferred to Louisville, are already off the market. However, there is no shortage of elite guards in this class. RJ Luis Jr. left St. John’s following their disappointing NCAA Tournament and will likely be one of the top targets if he doesn’t go to the NBA. Josh Dix from Iowa could also fill that need. However, it would make the most sense for Xavier guard Ryan Conwell to fill the void. Conwell already knows Miller’s system and sits in the transfer portal.

Can Texas Contend in the SEC?

This team needs a true superstar. The SEC isn’t going anywhere. Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and more all seem primed to continue dominating performances. Texas A&M lost Buzz Williams to Maryland, but a good coach could keep the Aggies in contention. Sean Miller already had his work cut out for him at Texas, but Swain represents the first of several steps that need to be made. Time will tell if more Texas players enter the portal (only one has entered so far). But arguably, cleaning house a little bit may not be the worst thing for the Longhorns if they can recruit well in the transfer portal.

However, Texas is still several moves away from contending in the SEC. Without a bona fide superstar, they will struggle to compete with the superstars on other SEC teams. They could assert themselves in the non-conference, but a 6-12 record in the SEC will probably never get them into the NCAA Tournament again. It’s a good first move for Sean Miller. Longhorn fans hope this is only the beginning of key signings in the transfer portal period.