Duke Basketball Transfer Likely Headed to NBA, Says Insider

Did Duke Jump the Gun with Cedric Coward?

The Duke basketball staff may have unintentionally backed itself into a tough spot in the transfer portal by betting on Cedric Coward — a bet that might not pan out if the rising NBA prospect stays in the draft.

Coward, a 6-foot-6 standout wing from Washington State, committed to Jon Scheyer’s squad in late April and remains Duke’s top portal addition. With his athleticism and all-around game, he looked like a sure contributor — if he decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft by the May 28 deadline.

But now, his draft stock is soaring.

According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, Coward is drawing strong first-round interest, with some scouts expecting him to go even higher than pick No. 29. “They all think they’re the only ones watching him,” Lowe said on The Zach Lowe Show. “But if all the scouts are this locked in on him, he’s going higher.”

Coward’s limited sample at Washington State — just six games due to injury — was still enough to impress, as he averaged 17.7 points, 7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.

With few impact transfers still available and no current Blue Devil with more than seven points per game in college last season, Coward’s potential NBA detour leaves Duke with a hole to fill — and few options left to plug it.