This spring, a number of players left the Duke Blue Devils after they advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four. Luckily for head coach Jon Scheyer, their departures were for the best.
Cooper Flagg, a predicted No. 1 overall choice, and fellow standout Kon Knueppel are the two Duke players who are leaving for the NBA Draft, making up four of the team’s five starters. Knueppel is generally predicted to be a top-10 pick, but Flagg is receiving the most of the national attention. NBA teams are also showing a lot of interest in teammates Tyrese Proctor and Khaman Maluach.
Duke basketball gave an update on Cedric Coward, a guy they had anticipated would play for them this season, amid this roster turmoil. Even though it was always anticipated that he would only be in Durham for a year, his position is still unknown.
“Cedric Coward on his looming decision to stay in the draft or go to Duke”
Coward, 21, has played collegiate basketball for four seasons previously. Before moving to Eastern Washington, where he was named to the First Team All-Big Sky, he started his career at Willamette University. He scored 15.4 points per game on average during his last season with the Eagles.
After that, he went to Washington State, where he only appeared in six games the previous season before sustaining a shoulder injury in November that ended his career. Coward was outstanding despite his brief tenure, averaging 17.7 points and seven rebounds per contest.
Coward discussed his relationship with Coach Scheyer and the Duke staff’s involvement in the draft process at the NBA Draft Combine.
“As I receive information, I communicate pretty much everything with Coach Scheyer and the staff,” Coward stated. “They’re completely supportive of me focusing on the draft right now because this is my dream. At the moment, I’m 100 percent focused on the draft.”
When asked how he would remain in the draft, Coward responded as follows:
“In the end, I’m not sure whether there’s anything in particular I should hear. Talking with my agent and using the finest knowledge I have to make the greatest choice will be the key.
Coward quickly praised the program when asked whether Duke was still a possibility if he went back to school for another season.
“Amazing. I chose them for a purpose. Coach Scheyer and his crew are amazing. If I went there, I think they could assist me.
May 28 is the cutoff day to withdraw from the NBA Draft while still being eligible to attend college.
