Duke basketball has been one of only three programs to avoid losing any players to the transfer portal this offseason. However, the Blue Devils have yet to bring in any new additions—something that could soon change. On3’s Joe Tipton has made an expert prediction that Duke will land Cedric Coward, a top transfer guard from Washington State.
Coward is currently deciding between Duke and Alabama.
The former Washington State standout has emphasized that his primary focus is preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft. However, if he opts to return to college for the 2025–26 season, he will choose between the Blue Devils and the Crimson Tide.
Adding Coward would be a major boost for Duke, giving them an elite guard to start alongside Caleb Foster and adding significant depth to their backcourt. Duke has already retained key pieces like Foster, Isaiah Evans, and Darren Harris for next season, providing them with a seasoned point guard and excellent shooting off the bench. Bringing in Coward, a dynamic scorer, would likely give Duke one of the strongest backcourts in college basketball for the 2025–26 campaign.
Coward, a 6-foot-6 guard, played in just six games for Washington State this past season due to injury but impressed in limited action, averaging 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 55.7% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
Originally from Fresno, California, Coward began his collegiate career at Division III Willamette University before transferring to Eastern Washington for the 2022–24 seasons.
According to the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings, Coward is rated as the No. 21 overall transfer and the No. 8 shooting guard. He is also ranked as the sixth-best player still available in the portal.
Head coach Jon Scheyer was highly successful in the portal last season, adding players like Sion James, Mason Gillis, and Maliq Brown to strengthen the roster. With no portal moves yet this offseason, securing Coward would be a huge win for Duke. However, even if Coward commits to Duke, it remains uncertain whether he will play for the team, as he plans to explore his NBA Draft prospects thoroughly before finalizing a decision.
