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

Cedric Coward’s basketball journey is one of grit and determination. He averaged 19.4 points and 12 rebounds per game at Division III Willamette University, earning him a transfer to Eastern Washington,

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.