High praise from well-respected experts and the Duke basketball commitment itself should only boost the transfer pledge's draft stock.

Washington State transfer Cedric Coward will stick with the NBA Draft process for now, but he could be a top player for Duke basketball next season.

That sentiment, while enthusiastic, also reflects a calculated choice. Coward chose Duke over offers from top programs like Alabama, drawn by a system that emphasizes ball movement, positional flexibility, and defensive intensity, areas where he has shown strength.