Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils were one of the four best teams in the nation during the 2024-25 college basketball season.
However, there have been major changes to the roster this offseason due to the 2025 NBA Draft. Last season, Duke had a lot of NBA talent. That talent led them to such a successful season, but is also leading to players leaving to play professionally. Of course, Cooper Flagg has entered the draft and is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick. He was the main headline name for the Blue Devils last season. Kon Knueppel, another massive part of the success the team had, has also entered the draft. Those two players are not the only losses that Duke suffered.
Along with Flagg and Knueppel, the Blue Devils are also losing Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor, and Sion James are also expected to be drafted. Another players has officially decided to leave the Duke program to stay in the draft. Cedric Coward was a big-time get for Scheyer in the NCAA transfer portal. He was expected to be a big part of helping replace Flagg and Knueppel.
Unfortunately, Coward has decided to remain in the draft and will not play with the Blue Devils after all. “This is the best opportunity for me to achieve part of my dream, which is making the NBA,” Coward said. “Everything is pointing in the right direction right now to follow that.” Last season in six games with Washington State, Coward averaged 17.7 points, seven rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. There is no doubt that he would have been a major impact player for Duke in the 2025-26 season.
Coward also spoke out and provided more inside information about how he feels about his chance in the upcoming draft. “I see myself as a draft pick,” Coward said. “I’m looking for a team that wants to take a chance on me. I’ve gotten really positive feedback. A lot of teams have been coy, not showing exactly how they feel. It doesn’t matter if it’s a guarantee or not, there’s still work ahead of me. There are only 59 picks. If I am fortunate to be one of those 59, it’s all a blessing. If I am 1 or 59, it doesn’t really matter. There’s always work to be done. It doesn’t matter what spot. It’s more about what team will give me the opportunity to show what I can do on the court.”
While this is a very unfortunate loss for the Blue Devils and Scheyer, Coward seems likely to be drafted and to make his dream of playing in the NBA become a reality.
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