New Washington State Wing Cedric Coward Has NBA Potential

The Eastern Washington transfer will make a massive impact in year one for the Cougars.

Keenan Womack | Aug 2, 2024

Dec 13, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Eastern Washington Eagles forward Cedric Coward (0) reacts in the second half during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports / Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Cedric Coward has had quite the journey across different levels of college basketball to get to Pullman, but he's primed to help usher in a new era of Washington State basketball.

Following head coach David Riley from Eastern Washington, Coward started his career at Willamette University, a Division-III school in Oregon, where he put up monster numbers before his first transfer.

After a second collegiate season (first in Division-I) where he played 21.6 minutes per game and averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds, he took a starring role in 2023-24 with the Eagles, playing over 30 minutes per game and averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.0 steals.

On the offensive end, Coward has multiple facets to his game. He's a reliable three-point shooter, hitting 38.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc. Combined with a blistering 89.5% from the free-throw line, it seems that his shot will translate not just to the West Coast Conference schedule that the Cougars will play, but maybe even to the NBA, should he have a strong enough campaign.

While not a player that can shoot off of the bounce from deep, he is a solid spot-up shooter, ranking in the 88th percentile in catch-and-shoot situations according to Synergy Sports.

His overall efficiency is elite – Coward ranks in the 95th percentile in points per shot at 1.28 with an effective field goal rate of 63.9%. Part of this is due to his ability to score at the rim as well, another place where he is considered at the top of his crop of players. He can play a back-to-the-basket kind of role occasionally as well, using physical strength to score inside, even against bigger players.

Defensively, despite standing at just 6-foot-6, Coward is an excellent shot blocker. He had a 3.5% block rate as a junior at Eastern Washington, meaning his timing is great despite the aforementioned lack of height versus a typical paint defender.

Overall, Coward is a true all-around player that can affect the game on both sides of the ball. Even his handle is solid – he's a fun watch in transition, and in the half-court, he has multiple ways to score as well as make reads as a passer (10.9% assist rate).

If the shot can stay where it is, or even improve, Cedric Coward has a chance not just to impact Washington State hoops in a positive way, but find himself on an NBA roster.

Published Aug 2, 2024

KEENAN WOMACK

Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.