The Duke Blue Devils landed a major talent in the transfer portal this offseason with the commitment of Cedric Coward. But they may never see him suit up in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Coward, a 6-foot-6 wing from Fresno, Calif., who transferred in from Washington State, is currently projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft, according to a new mock draft by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie. Notably, Coward is the only player Duke landed via the transfer portal this offseason — and he’s still testing the NBA Draft waters as an early entrant.
Vecenie has Coward slotted at No. 29 overall to the Phoenix Suns, calling him “this year’s riser into the first round” and hinting he might go even higher. Despite playing in only six games this past season due to injury, Coward made a lasting impression. He averaged over 15 points and six rebounds across his last 38 games, split between a strong sophomore season at Eastern Washington and his abbreviated junior campaign at Washington State.
“I saw Coward work out in Los Angeles in April,” Vecenie wrote. “It’s hard to overemphasize just how impressive he was. His balance and fluidity athletically are special… Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics.”
Coward, a former zero-star recruit, has become one of the most talked-about risers in this draft class. His 7-foot-1 wingspan, polished jumper, and smooth athleticism have scouts intrigued. And while Duke head coach Jon Scheyer secured his commitment, there’s growing skepticism that Coward will ever join the Blue Devils on the court.
“He is a perfect fit at Duke if he chooses to attend,” Vecenie added. “But my opinion is that he will prove himself worthy of staying in the draft.”
If Coward stays in, it would mark a short-lived Duke career that never officially began — a rare but increasingly common scenario in today’s evolving college-to-pro pipeline.
Still, Duke’s roster remains loaded with future NBA talent. Vecenie’s mock draft also features five Blue Devils projected to be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, headlined by Cooper Flagg, the presumed No. 1 overall pick to the Washington Wizards. He’s joined by Kon Knueppel (No. 6 to the 76ers), Khaman Maluach (No. 12 to the Bulls), Tyrese Proctor (No. 37 to the Pistons), and Sion James (No. 47 to the Bucks).
While the loss of Coward would sting in the short term, Duke’s NBA pipeline remains as strong as ever — and the program’s future is still shining bright.
