Duke: “I wasn’t that good”: Cedric Coward gets 100% real on his journey before Duke commitment

Cedric Coward is getting candid about his basketball journey. On Monday, the former Washington State guard appeared on "The Field of 68: After Dark" and reflected on his career thus far, including his recent commitment to play at Duke next season. Coward admitted that he wasn't a very good player coming out of high school.

"Honestly, there's a whole bunch of excuses I can make in terms of I wasn't looked at or I never played in an AAU circuit, all of that stuff, but to be honest with you, I just wasn't that good," Coward said.

Coward reflected on his childhood dreams of playing at a top program like Duke or Kansas that he watched on TV, but explained that these dreams didn't pan out right out of high school.

"I didn't really have the work to match the ambition of wanting to go there," Coward said.

NCAA Basketball: Eastern Washington at Washington State - Source: Imagn

Coward began his college career at the Division III level, playing a season at Willamette University. He thrived in his freshman season and was named NWC Freshman of the Year and was a first-team All-NWC selection. He ranked second in Division III with 19 double-doubles.

"I thank my coaches at D3, because that experience really helped me grow not only as a man but as a basketball player as well," Coward said. "Absolutely consuming myself with the game and realizing the level I wanted to get to, I had to get better."

Coward went on to spend stints at Eastern Washington University and Washington State on his way to fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for the Blue Devils.

What Cedric Coward brings to Duke

Cedric Coward is Duke's first transfer portal pick-up this offseason and provides Jon Scheyer's squad with a sizable wing with proven efficiency.

The 6'6" guard was a promising addition to Washington State this past season but appeared in just six games due to a shoulder injury. Despite his shortened season, Coward made an impact, averaging 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists and highlighting his defensive depth with 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals per game.

Coward is an excellent shooter from anywhere on the court. In his college career, he has averaged 59.3%, including 38.6% from beyond the arc and has made 83.3% of his free throws.

The tall, athletic guard brings four years of college experience and is a solid performer. He looks to bounce back from injury and showcase his versatile skill set for the Blue Devils next season.

About the author

Lindsey Ware is a college sports journalist at Sportskeeda with over five years of experience working with publications such as The News & Observer, The Daily Tar Heel, Triangle Tribune and Cardiac Cane. She has also worked for Major League Baseball, The Holly Springs Salamanders, The Tri-City Chili Peppers, Tuffy Talk, Super Meteors Basketball, Just Good Network and Living Sport.

Lindsey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill. Her education allowed Lindsey to gain experience in sports communication, which she honed in internships. Other than being a storyteller and sports fanatic, Lindsey is also a social media and marketing specialist.

Her favorite college team is UNC, although she grew up a N.C. State fan as both of her parents are Wolfpack alumni. Michael Jordan was a huge deal in North Carolina when Lindsey was growing up, and after a summer spent at UNC’s Sports Journalism Camp back in high school, Lindsey was set on being a Tar Heel.

Lindsey's favorite college coach of all time is Roy Williams. During her time attending UNC Chapel Hill and writing for The Daily Tar Heel, Lindsey was lucky enough to meet and speak with Williams a few times. He was like a celebrity on UNC’s campus and was beloved for his coaching style and success with the Tar Heels, accumulating three NCAA championship titles in 18 years.

When not watching or writing about sports, Lindsey enjoys reading, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with my friends, family and dog. She also likes to journal, watch movies and paint.

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Edited by Alvin Amansec