𝗖𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗕𝗔 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁

From Division III to the Lottery: Cedric Coward’s Unbelievable Rise to NBA Draft Stardom

The NBA Draft is always full of surprises, but every few years, a story emerges that genuinely feels historic. In 2025, that story might just belong to Cedric Coward, a name that started in relative obscurity but is now climbing its way into the national spotlight.

Once an unheralded player at Division III Willamette University, Coward’s basketball journey is anything but conventional. What he’s achieved over the past few years is nothing short of remarkable. After transferring from Willamette to Eastern Washington, Coward continued to climb, eventually landing at Washington State, where he was poised for a major breakout year. And despite being limited to just six games due to injury, Coward’s impact was undeniable.

So undeniable, in fact, that he began attracting attention from the very top of the college basketball world — including Duke University, where he ultimately committed as a transfer. Ranked the No. 14 overall transfer and the No. 5 shooting guard in the portal per On3, Coward had all the traits of a game-changer: a fluid scorer with elite shooting mechanics, an aggressive physical edge, and an unexpected but consistent ability to block shots at the guard position.

Yet in a surprising twist, Coward never suited up in a Duke jersey. The Blue Devils’ excitement quickly turned to disappointment as the veteran guard opted to remain in the 2025 NBA Draft, choosing the pros over one last ride in college hoops. It wasn’t the path many expected when he first entered the portal. At the time, Coward was projected as a second-round talent at best. But through a series of outstanding combine performances, workouts, and interviews, his draft stock skyrocketed.

Now, he’s projected in the top ten.

In John Fanta’s latest FOX Sports NBA Mock Draft, Coward is slated to go No. 10 overall to the Houston Rockets— a monumental leap for a player with roots in Division III. That kind of rise is nearly unprecedented in modern draft history, and it speaks volumes about the skill, maturity, and sheer determination Coward brings to the table.

Still, not every NBA front office is sold. Some remain cautious, citing the small sample size of elite play at Washington State due to his limited games. But others see the bigger picture: a 6’6″ guard with shooting range, defensive tenacity, high basketball IQ, and a battle-tested work ethic. He’s not just another prospect — he’s a player ready to contribute to a team right now.

And teams like Houston, which is filled with young talent but in need of polished, mature voices in the locker room, are seeing Coward as the perfect blend of experience and upside. For them, the risk is worth the potential reward.

Back in Durham, there’s no doubt that Duke fans and coaches would’ve loved to see Coward bring his game to Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils are still loaded with NBA-level talent, but the idea of adding a battle-hardened leader like Coward was especially exciting. Instead, they’ll have to watch from afar as he chases the dream every college player holds: hearing their name called in the NBA Draft.

For Cedric Coward, the journey has been unconventional, the odds long, and the path uncertain. But none of that matters now. He’s on the brink of turning an unlikely story into NBA history.

Draft night could be the next incredible chapter — and if the mock drafts hold true, it’s a chapter that begins in the NBA Lottery.