Pull up any random leaderboard from Tuesday’s athletic and skill evaluations at the NBA Draft Combine, held at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, and you’ll likely find Duke basketball transfer commit Cedric Coward among the top performers—if not at the very top.
Rapidly climbing NBA Draft boards, the former Washington State and Eastern Washington guard is starting to look less like someone who needs another year in college. His draft stock is clearly gaining serious momentum.
“Possibly the biggest riser so far in Chicago,” said 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein on Tuesday evening, reporting live from the event. “Bad news for Duke fans — hate to say it — but Cedric Coward is generating a lot of buzz… He’s looking like a potential first-round pick.
“It seems like the decision is shifting… it’s either Duke or the NBA. And right now, the NBA appears to be the frontrunner.”
NBA TV’s Krysten Peek echoed those sentiments.
“Buy in on Cedric Coward now,” Peek wrote during Coward’s impressive showing on Tuesday. “A 6-foot-6 guard with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, a 38.5-inch max vertical, and he’s been shooting very well in drills.
“He’s currently committed to Duke… but after this week, his draft stock could skyrocket.”
Coward has until May 28 to withdraw from the June 25-26 NBA Draft and preserve his remaining year of college eligibility.