NBA Draft Analyst Strongly Suggests Cedric Coward May Never Play for Duke Blue Devils Due to Strong Pro Interest
Cedric Coward was expected to bring toughness, versatility, and an elite motor to the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball program. However, a recent revelation from an NBA Draft analyst has cast serious doubt on whether the Eastern Washington transfer will ever suit up in Durham. The phrase making waves across Blue Devils circles is as straightforward as it is unsettling: “Unlikely he’ll step foot on campus.” While Duke fans were bracing for roster shifts in the offseason, Coward’s potential absence due to pro opportunities would be a particularly tough blow considering the expectations surrounding his commitment.
Coward, a 6-foot-6 wing who made his mark in the Big Sky Conference, announced his transfer to Duke with the idea of increasing his exposure, challenging himself in the ACC, and positioning himself as a first-round NBA prospect. In 2023–24, he averaged 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting an efficient 52.8% from the field and 39.1% from deep. His blend of two-way impact, effort on the glass, and improving offensive polish made him a prized portal pickup—especially for a Duke team needing an infusion of maturity, length, and defensive edge after a somewhat inconsistent campaign.
Yet despite his initial commitment, rumblings have grown louder in recent weeks that Coward may never actually wear a Duke jersey. According to a prominent NBA Draft analyst with close ties to team executives and player representation groups, Coward is “getting serious pro buzz,” and his performance in pre-draft workouts and interviews has led several teams to view him as a potential draft-and-stash or even a two-way contract candidate for the 2025 NBA Draft cycle. That’s notable because it means the NBA route could now feel more rewarding—both financially and developmentally—than a year in college, even at a storied program like Duke.
The implications are clear. If Coward decides to remain in the draft, Duke’s coaching staff will need to pivot, and fast. While they’ve had a productive offseason thus far—retaining key pieces and adding transfers and freshmen—losing a player of Coward’s caliber this late in the portal cycle could sting. His skill set was tailor-made for the kind of positionless basketball Duke is striving to perfect under new leadership. The Blue Devils aren’t lacking in talent, but Coward’s commitment brought balance, maturity, and a sense of physicality that’s not easily replaced.
This wouldn’t be the first time a transfer player committed to a program only to go pro before arriving. It’s a risk programs knowingly take in today’s college basketball landscape, especially when targeting elite mid-major players who are both draftable and eyeing a bigger stage. The calculus for these players is simple: if they perform well in the NBA Combine and secure positive feedback from front offices, why return to school when an NBA opportunity—even a non-guaranteed one—is on the table?
The timing is especially frustrating for Duke, not just because of the potential on-court impact, but also because Coward’s decision might linger into late spring or early summer. This could limit Duke’s ability to backfill his roster spot with a comparable player. By the time Coward makes a final call—likely after completing the pre-draft process in late May or early June—the remaining talent pool in the transfer portal will be far more limited. That could leave Duke having to rely more heavily on incoming freshmen or lean on players who were originally slated for rotational roles.
Recruiting insiders suggest that Coward and his camp are carefully weighing their options, but the tone has clearly shifted toward the pro route being more likely. His combination of athleticism, defensive instincts, and improved outside shooting is exactly what modern NBA scouts covet in role players. He’s unlikely to be a lottery pick, or even a first-rounder, but in today’s league, a well-rounded wing who can guard multiple positions and hit corner threes doesn’t need to be a star to carve out a lucrative, stable career.
There’s also the question of NIL. Duke, like other blue-blood programs, has been competitive on the Name, Image, and Likeness front, and Coward certainly would have been compensated well had he joined the program. But NIL money, while significant for college athletes, still often pales in comparison to even partial NBA deals, endorsement packages, or G League salaries with signing bonuses. And unlike NIL, which varies in security and duration, an NBA contract—even a two-way—is a direct line into the professional development pipeline, with 24/7 support, team resources, and fewer academic distractions.
Coward’s background also makes his story more compelling. A late bloomer from Tacoma, Washington, he was lightly recruited out of high school and landed at Eastern Washington without much fanfare. There, he blossomed into one of the most efficient wings in the country, quietly attracting the attention of NBA scouts with his competitiveness, motor, and defensive versatility. For someone who’s always had to prove himself at each level, the idea of jumping into the NBA system now—while his stock is hot—might feel like a logical next step.
For Duke, the fallout is twofold. First, they must prepare for the likely reality that Coward won’t be part of their 2025–26 roster. Second, they need to reevaluate how they handle elite mid-major transfers with pro aspirations. In an ideal world, every transfer who commits follows through, but the current state of college basketball is far from ideal. Coaching staffs must balance aggressive recruiting with contingency planning. There’s no room for assuming a player is locked in until they’re on campus and enrolled in classes.
Of course, there remains a slim chance Coward could reverse course and ultimately play for Duke. That would depend on multiple NBA teams advising him to return to school to improve his draft stock, refine his ball-handling, and showcase his skills on a national stage. But the prevailing sentiment is that he’s closer to staying in the draft than he is to returning to college. And unless something dramatic shifts in the next few weeks, Duke fans should probably brace themselves for a future that doesn’t include Cedric Coward.
The broader college basketball community is watching this situation closely. Coward isn’t a household name yet, but his decision could be a bellwether for other high-level transfers on the NBA fringe. The transfer portal has introduced more movement than ever before, but with the NBA increasingly mining it for ready-made talent, schools may find themselves navigating even more uncertainty going forward. Commitments are just that—commitments, not guarantees.
It’s hard not to feel a bit of sympathy for Duke in this scenario. They did everything right: identified a rising star, secured his pledge early, and integrated him into their offseason vision. But the reality of modern college basketball is that success in the portal comes with risk, especially when the pros come calling late in the game.
In the meantime, Duke will continue its offseason work, likely scouring the portal for last-minute additions and banking on internal development. The program has weathered these storms before. But missing out on Cedric Coward—a rugged, high-IQ player with defensive tenacity and a blue-collar edge—would be a missed opportunity. Not catastrophic, but certainly costly.
Whether or not Coward ever steps foot on campus, his case underscores a larger truth about the intersection of college basketball and the NBA: timelines are tighter, decisions are faster, and no path is ever fully certain. The draft buzz is real, and the phrase “unlikely he’ll step foot on campus” might just be the final word on Cedric Coward’s brief and ultimately unfulfilled Duke chapter.
