4-star Eric Dailey, Jr. talks visits, recruitment, and pro options

Eric Dailey, Jr. is the No. 58 player in the 2023 On3 Consensus. The four-star won a gold medal this Summer with the u18 USA Basketball team in the Americas Championship. He won a gold medal last year with USA Basketball in the 3-on-3 u18 World Cup.

“I’m transitioning back this season to my original small forward, big guard,” Dailey told On3. “We are down a guard right now, so I’m playing more of a guard position. I like to be a well-rounded player and fill the stat sheets. I watch players like LeBron James and Julius Randle; they fill the stat sheets. I’ll watch a lot of older players too, like Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony in the mid-range.”

On3 caught up with Eric Dailey, Jr., at the recent National Prep Showcase to talk about offers and visits.

“I’ve taken one official visit to Oklahoma State,” Dailey said. “I’m talking to Memphis and Michigan about possibly setting something up. We are still setting up dates and all.”

Dailey talks recruitment

Oklahoma State: “Coach Mike Boynton coached me at USA Basketball. I’ve known him since I was little, so there is a relationship there. They have great facilities. Stillwater is a great town, even though it is in the middle of nowhere. I think that is good if you are trying to go to the next level. You can really focus there.

“Stillwater was a great town, and they have a great fan base. It was a great visit there, for sure.”

Memphis: “Well, they got a great recruiting class coming in right now; I saw a few of my guys going there. They were hitting me up, saying I got to take a visit. So I’ve been in contact with the coaches and will probably take one.”

Michigan: “Coach (Juwan) Howard has been on me since my sophomore year. And Jett (Howard), you know he is one of my former teammates, so he is always in my ears telling me I got to go there. Michigan has a good basketball culture and basketball history as well.”

The pro route

Eric Dailey, Jr. is playing his post-graduate year at IMG Academy this season. This makes him eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft. There were multiple scouts in the stands watching him during this event, including from the Celtics, the Knicks, and others.

“Of course, I’ve looked at that,” Dailey said. “It’s hard to look away from that with people saying your name with the NBA. I haven’t talked to anyone with the G-League recently. I did a little bit in my younger years.

“If they’re talking about being drafted, it is hard not to look at that. I know I can go to college and play; I could have gone to college last year if that was the case. Nothing is going to get you ready for the NBA like the NBA. You just have to get into that system. We have had players here from IMG go straight to the league, so why not me? All I can do is go out there and play.”

In Dailey’s words

“I want to look for a program that will play me on the wing or at the guard, my true position,” Dailey said. “I’ll look at the relationship I have with the coach. I want to be in a family environment. I’ll need it to be a controlled environment; I can’t deal with chaos. Can’t do drama or anything like that; that’s just not me.

The school I go to I want it to be a working environment where everyone is there to get better. A place where there is no jealousy and everyone knows their roles. Where the coaches care for the players and the players care for one another.

“I come from a basketball family. My dad played at TCU and then pro overseas for a while. My mom played at Texas and then coached in the WNBA. She’s been the coach at IMG for a while now.”