Analyst reveals why Cedric Coward snubbed Duke for NBA Draft

The Duke Blue Devils lost plenty of talent to the 2025 NBA Draft. Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, Khaman Malauch, and Sion James all declared and are likely to be taken.

If that wasn’t enough, they also lost Cedric Coward, a player who didn’t play a single minute for them but was supposed to be one of their transfer portal reinforcements.

According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, the Washington State shooting guard made a strong impression at the NBA Draft Combine, which is why he chose not to transfer to Duke as initially expected.

NBA scouts fell in love with Cedric Coward

“His 7-2 1/4 wingspan is shocking for a 6-5 1/4 height — a “plus-9” in NBA terms, in a league where the average is about plus-4 — and he no-step jumped 32 1/2 inches. The cherry on the sundae was his making 72 of 105 shots in the shooting drills,“ wrote Hollinger.

Of course, not many players would forgo or even delay their dreams of turning pro to stay in college, regardless of how big a chance they might have of winning a National Championship.

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Coward has now officially entered the NBA’s radar, and while he might not be taken in the first round, he’s doing the right thing by pursuing a career in the pros.