Cedric Coward keeps his name in the NBA 2025 NBA and will give up Duke next season, he told ESPN on Saturday.
“This is the best opportunity for me to realize part of my dream, which makes the NBA,” said Coward. “Everything is coming in the right direction at the moment to follow this.”
Coward, a 21 -year -old senior, spent last season at Washington State, but he was forced to rebud after having undergone a partially torn shoulder labrum which put it aside after six games and required an operation at the end of the season. It was on average 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, drawing 40% out of 3 and attracting significant attention in the NBA circles because of its single background frame, its measurements and its exceptional productivity.
“The NBA teams learned that the injury was not a setback,” said Coward. “I improved and I became deeper in all the different details of my game. I improved a lot in aspects I had to work on, which was shown in my athletic tests and my shot. I am more mentally, physically and emotionally now.”
COWARD entered the NCAA transfer portal at the end of April, announced that it was committed to Duke after taking an official visit, which aroused interest in Alabama, Kansas, Washington and Florida.
“Even if I stay in the draft, I chose Duke for a reason,” said Coward. “I feel like I am halfway through fraternity. It was a difficult decision at the start, but after the combination, it became much easier with the path I wanted to take.
“It was always the main objective. Even if I went to Duke, it would have been to reach this level. I have the impression of being ready. It didn't hurt that I did pretty well with the combine harvester.”
Coward's position with the NBA teams increased in the middle of a strong predraft process which passed it from the marginal perspective to the choice projected in the first round, which led to its decision to stay in the draft without ever playing a single match for Duke.
He measured an enormous 7 -foot 2 -inch size at the NBA Draft combination, tested a maximum vertical jump of 38 years, classified as one of the best exercise shooters (making 71% of his overall attempts) and made a very busy professional day in Los Angeles, organized Tuesday by life sports agency, where he demonstrated his physical tools, his shooting.
Coward improbable his career at Division III Willamette in 2021, winning the first year of the year of the North West Conference. He transferred after his first year in eastern Washington, where he spent two seasons under the coach David Riley, becoming a member of the Big Sky team in 2024. When Riley was appointed coach of the Washington State, Coward followed him in Pullman, Washington, seeming to the conference campaign in the WCC.
A young senior, who was not 22 years old until September 11, Coward adapts to a mold that each NBA team seeks with its length, its shooting, its defensive potential and its late flowering trajectory.
Coward, projected as the choice n ° 30 in the last ESPN simulation project, will be authorized for a complete contact activity on June 14. He said he had visited two NBA teams for private head training sessions – Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder – and worked in Los Angeles in front of seven other teams that came to assess it.
“I see myself as a choice of draft,” said Coward. “I am looking for a team that wants to take a chance on me. I have received really positive comments. Many teams have been shy, not showing exactly what they feel. No matter whether it is a guarantee or not, there is always work in front of me. There is only 59 choices. If I am not more important. What team will give me the opportunity to show what I can do on the field.”
The NBA draft will be held from June 25 to 26 at the Brooklyn Barclays Center, New York.
Jonathan Givony is a draft expert from the NBA and founder and co -owner of Draftexpress.com, a private screening and analysis service used by the NBA, the NCAA and international teams.
