Duke men’s basketball has landed its first transfer portal addition of the offseason. Cedric Coward, a 6-foot-6 guard from Washington State, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils on April 28 via Instagram.
Coward arrives in Durham after an injury-shortened season in Pullman, Wash., where he played just six games before suffering a torn labrum that required surgery. Despite the limited action, he made a strong impression—averaging 17.7 points, seven rebounds, 22 assists, and 10 blocks while shooting 55.7% from the field. He was named to the preseason All-WCC team ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Though he has committed to Duke, Coward remains in the NBA Draft pool and must withdraw before officially joining the Blue Devils.
Before transferring to Washington State, Coward played two seasons at Eastern Washington. As a junior, he averaged 15.4 points per game and earned first-team All-Big Sky honors. He also tallied 215 rebounds, 30 blocks, and 27 steals during his time with the Eagles. His college journey began at Division III Willamette University, where he ranked second in the nation with 19 double-doubles—15 of which came consecutively to close the season.
Now fully recovered from injury, Coward brings elite scoring ability, defensive energy, and veteran leadership to a Duke backcourt that includes rising junior Caleb Foster and top recruit Cayden Boozer. With several Blue Devils declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft, Coward is expected to provide crucial experience as Duke reloads for another NCAA Tournament run.
