Blue Devil Country

Expert Expects Duke Basketball Transfer Pledge to Go NBA Route Instead

The Duke basketball staff might have put itself at a disadvantage in the portal by recruiting Cedric Coward.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Based on Cedric Coward's undeniable rising stock in the eyes of NBA Draft experts, it's now fair to question whether the Duke basketball program made a mistake pursuing the Washington State transfer forward in the first place.

ALSO READ: Ex-Duke Signee Experiences Massive Drop in Rankings

Coward, a 6-foot-6 explosive wing who ranks No. 13 overall in the 247Sports Transfer Rankings and committed to Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils in late April, remains Duke's only portal commit with the proven ability to contribute right away in Durham should he withdraw his name as an early NBA Draft entrant by the May 28 deadline.

Plus, there are now few transfers on Coward's level up for grabs.

Meanwhile, as insider Zach Lowe noted on The Zach Lowe Show this week, whispers from folks in NBA front offices suggest Coward is now all but a lock to hear his name in the first round if he decides to effectively back out of his Duke basketball pledge by staying put in the 2025 NBA Draft.

"They're all gonna be mad that I say the name because they all think they're the only ones on it," Lowe commented about his recent talks with franchise decision-makers regarding Coward's potential, "and they're not...Cedric Coward, if all of these scouts are on him like this...I think he's gonna be picked higher than [No. 29] just based on my conversations."

As a senior last season, his first at Washington State after developing into a top-shelf force across two campaigns at Eastern Washington, averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks. However, he did so across only six outings due to injury.

Sure, the projected 2025-26 Duke basketball roster includes others with star potential, namely incoming five-star freshman forward Cameron Boozer. But as things stand, the collection doesn't feature a single player who averaged over seven points per game in college last season, a clear concern to folks in the national media.

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball transfer portal news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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