Duke University has made a significant move in the transfer portal by acquiring Cedric Coward, a former Division III standout and recent player at Washington State. Coward, who averaged impressive statistics before a shoulder injury cut his season short, announced his commitment to Duke via Instagram, signaling a potential starting role in the Blue Devils' backcourt. His addition comes as Duke adjusts to the loss of several key players, aiming to maintain competitiveness in the ACC and NCAA Tournament. Coward's journey from Division III to a prominent role at Duke highlights his resilience and potential impact on the team. However, Coward must first withdraw from the NBA Draft to officially join the Duke roster for the upcoming season.

Duke's men's basketball team, which had previously avoided activity in the transfer portal, secured one of the offseason's major transfers by landing Cedric Coward, a player known for his versatility and scoring ability.

Cedric Coward, standing at 6-foot-6, averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game during his brief stint at Washington State, which was cut short due to a torn labrum after just six games.

Before his time at Washington State, Coward showcased his talent at Eastern Washington with an average of 15.4 points per game, following a successful start at Division III Willamette University where he recorded 19 double-doubles.

Duke's acquisition of Coward is part of a strategic effort to rebuild their team following the departures of key players like Cooper Flagg and Tyrese Proctor, aiming to maintain their strong presence in collegiate basketball.

Coward's decision to join Duke was publicly announced on Instagram, revealing his excitement for the opportunity and indicating his likely role as a starting guard alongside players like Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans.

The transition to Duke requires Coward to withdraw from the NBA Draft, a move necessary for him to be eligible to play in the upcoming season and contribute to Duke's success in the ACC and beyond.

Under coach Jon Scheyer, Duke's roster is expected to emphasize length and versatility, with Coward's skills complementing the team's evolving lineup as they prepare for a competitive season.

Duke's men's basketball program had spent the entire offseason avoiding one thing: the transfer portal.

Before Monday, no Blue Devils had entered the portal, and no one had committed to come to Durham out of the portal.

But that all changed with one of the biggest transfer moves of the offseason: Cedric Coward is coming to Duke.

The 6-foot-6 grad transfer announced his move in an Instagram post, writing, "I think blue is my color!"

Coward spent the 2024-25 season at Washington State, where he played in just six games before a torn labrum ended his season.

In those six games, Coward averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

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The two years prior, Coward played at Eastern Washington. As a junior there, he averaged 15.4 points per contest.

His college origin story was Division III Willamette University. He tallied 19 double-doubles there, including one in each of his final 15 games of the season.

Coward is technically declared for the NBA Draft and will have to withdraw his name before he can officially come to Duke.

Most likely, Coward will be a starting member of Duke's backcourt, following this season's theme of lots of length even on the perimeter.

Rising junior Caleb Foster and sophomore Isaiah Evans are other candidates to start at guard. Cayden Boozer and Carlos Boozer are two other probable starters for Jon Scheyer.

Duke will look a lot different after the departures of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor and Sion James.

But picking up Coward is a big step toward having another impressive season in the ACC and the NCAA Tournament.

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