Cedric Coward, the recent Duke commit from Washington State, has not only earned an invitation to next week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago but is also projected as a first-round pick in the latest mock draft by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.
Sam Vecenie projects Cedric Coward—a 6-foot-6 wing who’s averaged over 15 points and six rebounds across his last 38 games spanning his time at Eastern Washington and an injury-shortened junior season at Washington State—to be selected 29th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Draft.
Vecenie described Coward, a 21-year-old Fresno native and former unranked high school recruit, as his pick to rise into the first round. “This might not even be high enough,” he said. Despite appearing in only six games this past season, Coward impressed with standout performances. Vecenie, who watched him work out in Los Angeles in April, praised his athleticism and shooting mechanics, noting Coward’s smooth motion, balance, and 7-foot-1 wingspan. He added that while Coward would be an ideal fit at Duke, he believes the forward has the talent to remain in the draft and succeed at the next level.
In other words, despite Cedric Coward’s commitment to Jon Scheyer and the Duke basketball program, there’s a chance he may ultimately stay in the NBA Draft and never suit up for the Blue Devils.
At the same time, Sam Vecenie projects five players from Duke’s 2024-25 roster to be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg going No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards, Kon Knueppel at No. 6 to the Philadelphia 76ers, Khaman Maluach at No. 12 to the Chicago Bulls, Tyrese Proctor at No. 37 to the Detroit Pistons, and Sion James at No. 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks.
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