During the 2024–25 collegiate basketball season, Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils were among the top four teams in the country. However, the 2025 NBA Draft has caused significant roster adjustments this summer.
Duke possessed a lot of NBA talent the previous season. They had such a great season because of that quality, but it is also causing players to leave to play professionally.
Cooper Flagg has obviously entered the draft and is anticipated to be selected first overall. Last season, he was the Blue Devils’ big headliner. Another key contributor to the team’s success, Kon Knueppel, has also declared for the draft.
Duke lost several players in addition to those two.
The Blue Devils are losing Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor, and Sion James in addition to Flagg and Knueppel. Sion James is also anticipated to be selected in the draft. In order to remain in the draft, another player has formally chosen to quit the Duke program.
Scheyer made a huge acquisition of Cedric Coward through the NCAA transfer site. He was supposed to play a significant role in replacing Knueppel and Flagg.
Sadly, Coward has made the decision to stay in the draft and will not be playing for the Blue Devils.
“This is the best opportunity for me to achieve part of my dream, which is making the NBA,” Coward stated. “Everything is pointing in the right direction right now to follow that.”
Coward averaged 17.7 points, seven rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game in six games with Washington State last season. He undoubtedly would have had a significant influence on Duke’s 2025–2026 campaign.
Additionally, Coward expressed his feelings about his chances in the forthcoming draft and gave more inside knowledge.
When Coward remarked, “I see myself as a draft pick,” “A team willing to take a risk on me is what I’m searching for. I’ve received really encouraging comments. Many teams have been evasive, not expressing their true feelings. I still have work to do, regardless of whether it’s a guarantee or not. There are just fifty-nine selections. It’s a blessing if I’m lucky enough to be among those fifty-nine. It doesn’t really matter if I’m 1 or 59. Work needs to be done all the time. Which location doesn’t matter. What matters more is which team will provide me with the chance to demonstrate my skills on the court.
Even though Scheyer and the Blue Devils are devastated by this setback, Coward is probably going to be selected in the draft, which would allow him to fulfill his NBA ambition.
