An Unlikely Ascent
Get ready to be inspired by the incredible journey of Cedric Coward. His name is making waves in the basketball world for a very good reason.
Cedric Coward took a path to the NBA that few have traveled. He started his college career at a Division III school.
This unconventional route makes his recent achievement even more remarkable. It’s a true testament to talent, resilience, and hard work.
Dominating the Division III Scene
Coward began his collegiate basketball career at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
Willamette competes at the Division III level, a level typically not associated with future NBA stars.
However, Cedric Coward quickly proved he was an exception.
In his single freshman season with the Willamette Bearcats, he had a profound impact.
He put up impressive numbers, averaging 19.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
This dominant performance earned him significant recognition. He was named Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year.
He also received first-team All-Northwest honors. His time at Willamette showed his potential to thrive at higher levels.
Developing at Division I
Following his successful freshman year, Coward transferred to Eastern Washington University.
He spent two seasons developing his game with the Eastern Washington Eagles in Division I.
Coward continued to grow as a player during this period.
In his junior season at Eastern Washington, his performance remained strong. He averaged 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
His contributions were recognized within the conference. He was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference.
Facing Setbacks and Eyeing the Draft
Coward later transferred to Washington State University.
Unfortunately, his season with the Cougars was cut short. He suffered a shoulder injury after playing just six games.
Despite this significant setback, Coward made a pivotal decision. He declared for the NBA Draft.
He also initially committed to transfer to Duke University. However, after participating in the NBA Combine, he chose to remain in the draft pool.
Reports suggest his performance at the combine significantly boosted his draft stock.
Achieving the NBA Dream
All the hard work, transfers, and perseverance led to a monumental moment.
Cedric Coward was selected as the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
He was initially drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, his draft rights were quickly traded. Coward is now officially a member of the Memphis Grizzlies.
He is listed as a shooting guard and small forward for his new team.
Making it to the NBA from a Division III school is a truly rare accomplishment.
More Than Just a Game: Inspiring Stories
Cedric Coward’s journey is a powerful example for athletes at all levels.
It demonstrates that talent, dedication, and seizing opportunities can lead you to the highest levels, regardless of where you start.
Stories like this deserve to be shared widely.
Imagine if young athletes around the world could easily read about his path! Tools designed for multilingual content are invaluable for this.
A tool like Doctranslate.io can help make amazing sports stories, manuals, or even scouting reports accessible to a global audience by providing accurate and fast document translation.
Learning how to use such tools is easy; you can find guidance in their user manual.
Cedric Coward’s inspiring rise from Willamette to the NBA’s first round is an achievement to celebrate.
Keep an eye on his career with the Memphis Grizzlies! His story reminds us that with determination, unexpected dreams can come true.
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