Eric Dailey Jr. is the latest piece to the puzzle as 2026 roster construction is in progress

Eric Dailey Jr. is the latest domino to fall for UCLA. He announced he will be returning for his senior season which is a positive for this Bruins team. He was the most consistent player for the team the last eight games of the season. Once he moved back to the power forward position, he scored in double digits every single game and led UCLA and scoring in the round of 64. His consistent basketball led to UCLA getting back into the NCAA tournament.

Dailey Jr. is a lanky forward that runs the floor very well. He can handle the ball and get out in transition with the guards. When the season started, the Bruins moved him back to his natural position of small forward. This was hoping that he would find the consistency again that he showed at Oklahoma State and at times his first season at UCLA. There were games he looked very good and other games where he would score three or less points.

Once UCLA started to get healthy and got Skyy Clark back. They had a decision to make on what they would do with their starting lineup. They decided it was best to move Tyler Bilodeau to the five and Dailey Jr. to the four and run a three-guard set. This was due to the fact Trent Perry had a break out being inserted into the starting lineup. It ultimately saved UCLA’s season and is a building block to help the Bruins for the 2026 season.

With Dent and Bilodeau on the way out and 31 points per game to go with it. UCLA did not want to have to replace another 11.6 points per game that Dailey Jr. provided. He shot 48.6% from the floor this past season but his 3-point shot fell from 37.8% to 31.6%. If he could get back up to that 37% range, he could have a great senior season and put himself into NBA Draft talks. Regardless this was good news that UCLA received and now they await a Perry decision soon.