Coward forgoes Duke, to remain in NBA draft

• Jonathan GivonyMay 24, 2025, 11:34 AM ET Close NBA draft expert and author Signed Up With ESPN.com in July 2017
  Creator and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private hunting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international groups

Cedric Coward is keeping his name in the 2025 NBA draft and will give up the chance to play at Duke next season, he informed ESPN on Saturday.

“This is the best chance for me to achieve part of my dream, which is making the NBA,” Coward said. “Whatever is pointing in the ideal direction right now to follow that.”

Coward, a 21-year-old senior, spent the previous season at Washington State, but he was forced to redshirt after suffering a partially torn shoulder labrum that sidelined him after 6 games and required season-ending surgery. He was averaging 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, shooting 40% from 3 and drawing substantial attention in NBA circles due to his special backstory, measurables and impressive productivity.Editor’s Picks

1 Related “NBA groups discovered that the injury wasn’t a setback,” Coward stated. “I improved and ended up being more profound in all the different information of my game. I improved significantly in aspects that I needed to deal with, which showed in my athletic screening and shooting. I’m more powerful mentally, physically and mentally now.”

Coward went into the NCAA transfer website and in late April announced he had actually dedicated to Duke after taking an official see, rejecting interest from the similarity Alabama, Kansas, Washington and Florida.

“Even though I am remaining in the draft, I chose Duke for a reason,” Coward stated. “I feel like I’m halfway in the brotherhood. This was a tough choice at first, however after the integrate, it became a lot easier with the course I wanted to take.

“This was constantly the main goal. Even if I went to Duke, it would have been in order to get to this level. I feel like I am prepared. It didn’t injure that I did pretty well at the integrate.”

Coward’s standing with NBA groups has actually risen amid a strong predraft procedure that improved him from fringe possibility to projected first-round pick, leading to his decision to stay in the draft without ever playing a single game for Duke.He measured an enormous 7-foot-2 1/4 wingspan at the NBA draft integrate, checked a 38 1/2-inch max vertical leap, ranked as one of the best shooters in drills (making 71% of his aggregate attempts) and performed a well-attended professional day in Los Angeles on Tuesday arranged by Life Sports Firm, where he showed his physical tools, boundary shooting and conditioning.Coward unbelievably started

his career at Department III Willamette in 2021, making Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He transferred after his freshman year to Eastern Washington, where he invested two seasons under coach David Riley, ending up being a Big Sky All-First Staff member in 2024. When Riley was named the coach at Washington State, Coward followed him to Pullman, Washington, appearing to be en route to an all-conference project in the WCC before hurting his shoulder.A young senior, not turning 22 until Sept. 11, Coward

fits a mold every NBA team is seeking with his length, boundary shooting, protective potential and late-blooming trajectory.Coward, projected as the No. 30 pick in ESPN’s most current mock draft, will be cleared for full contact activity on June 14. He said he has actually checked out 2 NBA groups for personal one-on-zero exercises– the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder– and has actually exercised in Los Angeles in front of another seven groups that concerned evaluate him.” I see myself as a draft choice,”Coward said.” I’m searching for a group that wants to take a chance on me.

I have actually gotten actually positive feedback. A great deal of groups have actually been coy, disappointing exactly how they feel. It doesn’t matter if it’s an assurance or not, there’s still work ahead of me. There are only 59 choices. If I am lucky to be among those 59, it’s all a blessing. If I am 1 or 59, it does not actually matter. There’s always work to be done. It does not matter what area. It’s more about what team will offer me the opportunity to reveal what I can do on the court. “The NBA draft will be held June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.Jonathan Givony is an

NBA draft specialist and the creator and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal huntingand analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and global groups.