Cedric Coward

Coward is an American forward who entered the NBA as an 11th overall pick in 2025 after an unusual college path that spanned Division III, Division I mid-major, and Pac-12 competition. Traded from Portland to Memphis on draft night, he made an immediate impact as a rookie, recording a historic shooting performance and earning All-Rookie First Team honors. His journey from Fresno through Willamette, Eastern Washington, Washington State, and a brief commitment to Duke reflects a developmental trajectory marked by rapid improvement, injury adversity, and a late surge into the lottery.

Born Cedric De'Von Coward on September 11, 2003, in Fresno, California, he attended Central High School. He is the grandson of Maxie Parks. He began his college career at Division III Willamette University, where he averaged 19.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in his only season and was named Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Northwest.

After his freshman season, Coward transferred to Eastern Washington University. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. As a junior, he elevated his production to 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds and earned first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors. After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal. He committed to Washington State but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury six games into his first season with the Cougars. At the time of his injury, he was Washington State's leading scorer at 17.7 points per game and averaging seven rebounds.

Following his senior season, Coward entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2025 NBA draft. On April 28, 2025, he committed to Duke but kept his name in the draft. After the NBA Combine, he announced on May 24 that he would forgo Duke and remain in the draft pool. The Portland Trail Blazers selected him 11th overall in the 2025 NBA draft and traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies for Yang Hansen and future draft considerations. He signed with Memphis on July 8.

On October 25, 2025, Coward scored 27 points on 6-for-6 shooting from three-point range in a 128-103 win over the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first rookie in Grizzlies franchise history to record at least six made three-pointers in a game without a miss. At the end of his rookie season, he finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Coward is a modern stretch-forward with a smooth shooting stroke, positional size, and improving offensive versatility. His shooting percentages at all three college levels trended upward, and his 6-for-6 three-point performance as a rookie demonstrated elite catch-and-shoot potential. He moves well without the ball, attacks closeouts, and has shown flashes of off-the-dribble creation. His frame and mobility allow him to guard multiple positions, and his rebounding rates improved steadily throughout college. His shoulder injury at Washington State raised durability questions, but his rookie season dispelled many concerns. His main development areas are defensive consistency, playmaking, and expanding his offensive repertoire beyond spot-up shooting.

Coward enters the 2025-26 season as a Memphis Grizzlies forward with a decorated rookie campaign. His résumé includes a Division III Freshman of the Year award, first-team All-Big Sky, Washington State's leading scorer before a shoulder injury, a brief commitment to Duke, a forgo of college eligibility after the combine, an 11th overall draft selection, a draft-night trade to Memphis, a franchise-record perfect 6-for-6 three-point game, fifth place in Rookie of the Year voting, and All-Rookie First Team honors. His path from Fresno through Willamette, Eastern Washington, Washington State, and into the lottery reflects a career built on relentless improvement, shooting excellence, and rapid adaptation to NBA competition.