Cedric Coward Commits to Duke

Cedric Coward Commits to Duke

What Does Cedric Coward Bring to Duke?

Coward is extremely efficient from the floor and provides elite frontcourt scoring for a wing. He averaged 15.4 points per game in his last full season in 2023-24 with Eastern Washington, shooting an incredible 69% from two. He’s even developed into a strong three-point shooter, averaging 38.8% from three throughout his career. He’s averaged 1.9 assists per game for his career, so he won’t be the main playmaker, but he has shown his overall contribution with 6.2 rebounds and around one steal and block per game.

Coward’s athleticism should fit perfectly into Duke’s system. He shoots well enough from three to spread the floor, while his elite slashing ability helps the Blue Devils get more of the easy buckets they desire from their offensive sets. Any player who shoots 59.5% for their career will have a spot in Jon Scheyer’s offense, especially a wing.

What Does Duke Provide Coward Long-Term?

Coward has flirted with the idea of entering the NBA draft, but it seems like he will return to try and increase his draft stock. At a school like Duke, he joins the ranks of some of the best NBA prospects ever, including the presumptive number-one pick Cooper Flagg. Duke is a factory for NBA prospects. Coward will get the opportunity to refine his offensive game in a power conference, while Duke’s system will allow him to show his defensive skill. Duke finished in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Coward will be asked to play offensively and defensively at an elite level to remain on the floor for Duke. Whatever the main questions are about Coward, he has the chance to answer them all in Durham.

What is Duke’s Ceiling?

Duke’s season ended in unfortunate fashion. Ultimately, anything less than a national championship would have been a disappointment. They will likely have three lottery picks in the NBA draft. They will have lower expectations next year, but anything short of a championship is a failure at Duke. Coward is a dynamic player who will change Duke’s outlook. Flagg declared for the draft along with Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, and Khaman Maluach. They have an elite high school class but no transfers other than Coward.

While Coward is an elite transfer, they need another. They will be one of the top teams in the country next year, but they need more. If they could pick up one more transfer, preferably a center, they would have more success. Patrick Ngongba is a good center and Maliq Brown is an underrated player who announced his return. However, one more true center would alleviate some pressure. Cedric Coward won’t single-handedly win a championship, but Duke needed a victory in the portal. It will only go up from here.