This post was updated April 16 at 8:23 p.m.

Coach Mick Cronin is gradually piecing together his roster. 

Tuesday morning, the 2024-2025 mosaic gained another member – this time with a Big 12 shine. 

Former Oklahoma State forward Eric Dailey Jr. announced his commitment to UCLA men’s basketball on Instagram after one season with the Cowboys. Dailey’s transfer marks the third player from as many conferences to join the Bruins, following the additions of the Pac-12’s own guard Kobe Johnson and former Atlantic Coast Conference guard Skyy Clark. 

“I’m excited to see what is to come and to be a Bruin,” Dailey said in his announcement on Instagram. 

In the post, the freshman detailed how he decided to enter the transfer portal after changes in the Cowboys’ program, believing it best to pursue other opportunities in order to reach his ultimate goal of playing in the NBA. Last month, Oklahoma State fired coach Mike Boynton Jr. – who recruited Dailey – after seven seasons with the team. 

A four-star prospect out of IMG Academy, Dailey averaged 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game across 32 games, including 16 starts, for Oklahoma State. The forward recorded two double-doubles this season, nearly adding a third during a 20-point, nine-rebound performance against OSU’s rival Oklahoma – his best scoring outing of his freshman campaign. 

“Eric is a big guard, built in the Jaime Jaquez Jr. mold,” Cronin said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “He can rebound like a big, but he is a young man with guard skills in a big, strong body.”

A three-time gold medalist, Dailey played for Team USA prior to his collegiate career. He was most recently a member of the nation’s U19 team at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup and also earned gold medals in 2022 at the FIBA U18 Americas and in 2021 at the 3×3 U18 World Cup.

Dailey isn’t the only member of his family with a hand in international basketball. His father, Eric Dailey Sr., played professionally abroad for over 10 years and is now AAU’s International Basketball Director. His mother, Shell Dailey, remained stateside but has coached at the WNBA, NCAA and high school levels after her own collegiate playing career. 

With Dailey Jr.’s addition, Cronin has begun to shore up his frontcourt after adding two guards earlier this offseason. But with sophomore forward/center Adem Bona’s declaration for the NBA Draft and redshirt fifth-year forward/center Kenneth Nwuba’s graduation, there remain holes to fill to continue supplementing freshman center Aday Mara.