Cedric Coward is conserving his identify within the 2025 NBA draft and can forgo the chance to play at Duke subsequent season, he instructed ESPN on Saturday.
“That is the very best alternative for me to realize a part of my dream, which is making the NBA,” Coward mentioned. “Every thing is pointing in the suitable path proper now to comply with that.”
Coward, a 21-year-old senior, spent the previous season at Washington State, however he was compelled to redshirt after struggling {a partially} torn shoulder labrum that sidelined him after six video games and required season-ending surgical procedure. He was averaging 17.7 factors, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per sport, taking pictures 40% from 3 and drawing vital consideration in NBA circles because of his distinctive backstory, measurables and excellent productiveness.
“NBA groups discovered that the harm wasn’t a setback,” Coward mentioned. “I received higher and have become extra profound in all of the totally different particulars of my sport. I improved tremendously in facets that I wanted to work on, which confirmed in my athletic testing and taking pictures. I am stronger mentally, bodily and emotionally now.”
Coward entered the NCAA switch portal and in late April introduced he had dedicated to Duke after taking an official go to, spurning curiosity from the likes of Alabama, Kansas, Washington and Florida.
“Despite the fact that I’m staying within the draft, I picked Duke for a motive,” Coward mentioned. “I really feel like I am midway within the brotherhood. This was a tough choice at first, however after the mix, it grew to become quite a bit simpler with the trail I wished to take.
“This was all the time the primary objective. Even when I went to Duke, it could have been to be able to get to this stage. I really feel like I’m prepared. It did not damage that I did fairly effectively on the mix.”
Coward’s standing with NBA groups has risen amid a powerful predraft course of that boosted him from fringe prospect to projected first-round decide, leading to his choice to stay within the draft with out ever enjoying a single sport for Duke.
He measured an infinite 7-foot-2¼ wingspan on the NBA draft mix, examined a 38½-inch max vertical leap, ranked as top-of-the-line shooters in drills (making 71% of his mixture makes an attempt) and carried out a well-attended professional day in Los Angeles on Tuesday organized by Life Sports activities Company, the place he demonstrated his bodily instruments, perimeter taking pictures and conditioning.
Coward improbably began his profession at Division III Willamette in 2021, incomes Northwest Convention Freshman of the 12 months honors. He transferred after his freshman yr to Japanese Washington, the place he spent two seasons underneath coach David Riley, turning into a Huge Sky All-First Staff member in 2024. When Riley was named the coach at Washington State, Coward adopted him to Pullman, Washington, showing to be en path to an all-conference marketing campaign within the WCC earlier than injuring his shoulder.
A younger senior, not turning 22 till Sept. 11, Coward matches a mould each NBA staff is searching for along with his size, perimeter taking pictures, defensive potential and late-blooming trajectory.
Coward, projected because the No. 30 decide in ESPN’s newest mock draft, might be cleared for full contact exercise on June 14. He mentioned he has visited two NBA groups for personal one-on-zero exercises — the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — and has labored out in Los Angeles in entrance of one other seven groups that got here to guage him.
“I see myself as a draft decide,” Coward mentioned. “I am on the lookout for a staff that wishes to take an opportunity on me. I’ve gotten actually constructive suggestions. Loads of groups have been coy, not exhibiting precisely how they really feel. It would not matter if it is a assure or not, there’s nonetheless work forward of me. There are solely 59 picks. If I’m lucky to be a kind of 59, it is all a blessing. If I’m 1 or 59, it would not actually matter. There’s all the time work to be carried out. It would not matter what spot. It is extra about what staff will give me the chance to point out what I can do on the court docket.”
The NBA draft might be held June 25-26 on the Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, New York.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft skilled and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a non-public scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups.
