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New Duke transfer commit still eyeing NBA
Just one player so far has decided to come to Duke via the transfer portal this offseason. That player is former Washington State wing Cedric Coward, who recently committed to Duke after taking an official visit.
Coward is a major get for head coach Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils, but his commitment comes with a caveat. Alongside entering the transfer portal this offseason, he also entered his name in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Coward committed to Duke as a transfer player, but he's still looking at his options as far as the NBA is concerned. In that sense, Duke has no guarantees just yet that he'll be on the roster next season. He also has no timeline as to when that decision will come despite the fact that he just committed to the Blue Devils.
“There’s no set timetable on when the decision is going to be made but, as I gain more information, as I talk to the people close, close to me and that have the information in order for me to make that decision, and as I talk more to Coach Scheyer and the staff, we’ll come to a decision on what’s best for me," Coward told "The Field of 68" (h/t On3).
The draft is on June 25, so something is going to have to give here in the next two months. Coward relayed that he wants to make an informed decision, but he seemed rather pleased that Scheyer and the Blue Devils are giving him a chance to let it play out. That likely played a role in his decision to transfer to Duke.
"Something with Coach Scheyer and the staff that really, I really respected is that they respected my choices in terms of, like, still going along with this,” Coward explained.
If Coward stays at Duke, he'll likely be one of the top players in the nation. As a junior at WSU last season, he averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Notably, ESPN ranks Coward as the 52nd best prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. One would imagine a great year at Duke in 2025 could help raise his profile, but it remains to be seen what he decides to do.
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