Dailyn Swain has never issued a formal list of top schools. If he had, one would think the Buckeyes would at least make the cut for the Columbus native, who has had no lack of exposure to his hometown program over the past couple of years.
But perhaps that is little more than an assumption.
After performing at Ohio State’s high school team camp alongside his teammates at Africentric on Thursday, Swain sounded like a prospect with a healthy and positive relationship with the Buckeyes. But he closed his interview session by saying they aren’t necessarily a frontrunner to land his services.
“I wouldn’t say it’s just another school, but I wouldn’t say it’s a leader, either,” Swain said. “I feel like I’m feeling everybody out. I got a couple schools coming in that haven’t offered yet that I really like, too.”
The No. 67 player and No. 2 Ohio prospect in 2023, Swain has long been a top target for Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes. Swain’s lanky frame at 6-foot-6 and 170 pounds makes him an optimal fit as a versatile wing who could play multiple positions at the next level.
Swain said Holtmann discussed that very thing with him after putting on a stellar individual performance in a win against Reynoldsburg in his first contest of the two-day camp. The Buckeye head coach corralled Swain after the final buzzer sounded and spoke with him for a few minutes, but also arranged a subsequent meeting where they could talk more in-depth.
“Just getting upstairs for a little bit, talking about another visit possibly, talking about what he thinks I can do with the program. … With him, we have a good relationship,” Swain said. “He always stays in the mix, checks up on me, sees my progress. He tells me what he thinks, what he sees in my game and what I can do.”
What Swain envisions for himself, particularly entering his senior season of high school, is the ability to play the point guard position while also being a defensive stopper at several spots at the other end. Swain said he’s working on conserving energy on offense to have more juice to play defense and hit long-range shots. With his unique physical tools, Swain believes he can be a multifaceted asset at the next level.
“I’d say it’s very valuable,” Swain said. “If I have a small guard on me I can shoot over him, put him in the post. If I have a big guy on me, I can go by him, he’s usually too slow to stay in front of me since I have guard skills. So it’s very valuable.
“I would say it’s always been a part of my game. Starting out playing basketball, I started as a guard. I wasn’t always as tall as I am now. Having the growth spurt that I had, I stuck with my guard skills and I developed more skills, so versatility just came with that.”
Swain said Holtmann agrees that he might have more potential to play point guard than the staff may have initially envisioned.
“He actually just mentioned that, like he could see some point guard in my future,” Swain said of Holtmann. “But we have a talk coming up soon.”
The question is whether or not Swain will display those talents in scarlet and gray once his high school career comes to an end. Aside from his potential next visit with Ohio State, Swain has one scheduled with California and is planning more for the end of the month. Swain said he’s also in talks with NC State to get a better feel for the program.
It’s clear Swain is still open to new schools entering the mix as he continues to make his rounds on the travel circuit this summer. He said he doesn’t have a specific timeline in place for making a final decision regarding his recruitment.
The Buckeyes have a need for a long wing in their 2023 class, with combo guard George Washington III (an AAU teammate of Swain’s on All-Ohio Red) and four-star center Austin Parks being the lone two commitments in the cycle thus far. But Ohio State is also targeting top-100 small forward Devin Royal, another member of All-Ohio Red, for what could be a similar role.
The allure of Swain’s talents are clear for Holtmann and company, but his familiarity with multiple future Buckeyes could be a reason to join Ohio State. Swain called Washington “a great friend” and said All-Ohio Red should add Parks to its roster in July. Swain and Royal also have obvious on-court chemistry, which makes their coexistence in a recruiting class easy to envision.
Beyond that, Swain is drawn to the level of competition in the Big Ten and the transparent nature of the Buckeye coaching staff.
“The conference, the Big Ten is obviously a great basketball conference. The program, the coaching staff, they tell you the vision they have for you,” Swain said. “They don’t just let you think whatever you want to think, they tell you what it is and what you need to know.”
Of course, Swain is equally concerned with the skills he can hone to become a difference-maker at the college level, no matter which destination he ends up choosing.
“Just a lot of versatility, whatever the coach needs. Guarding one through four, playing point guard, playing the wing, locking up,” Swain said. “Whatever he needs.”