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# Washington State Star Cedric Coward Achieves NBA Dream, Lands With Grizzlies
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/washington-state-cougars-cedric-coward-achieves-nba-dream-2025-draft-memphis-grizzlies/
- Published: 2025-06-28T15:48:22.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:19:40.000Z
- Author: Jacob Stevenson
- Tags: News, Washington State Men's Basketball, Cedric Coward, Cougars

Projected by some analysts as a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Washington State guard Cedric Coward was selected 11th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, only to be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies moments later.

> With the 11th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Cedric Coward from Washington State!  
>  
> Congrats to [@CedricCoward](https://twitter.com/CedricCoward?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) on his selection, matching [@klaythompson](https://twitter.com/KlayThompson?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) with the highest overall pick in Coug history! And 3-straight [#NBADraft](https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBADraft?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) with a WSU pick. [#GoCougs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) [pic.twitter.com/X7se0EL1Pz](https://t.co/X7se0EL1Pz?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) [June 26, 2025](https://twitter.com/WSUCougarsMBB/status/1938052486839017864?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)

Matching future Hall of Fame guard Klay Thompson as the highest selected Cougar ever, Coward’s rise to the NBA has been incredible, as his journey began at Division III Williamette University before transferring to Eastern Washington. Once in Cheney, after averaging a hair over seven points per game in his sophomore season, he burst onto the scene as a First-Team All-Big Sky selection by averaging 15.4 points per game and shooting north of 38 percent from behind the arc.

Following his coach David Riley to nearby Pullman, Coward transferred again prior to the 2024 season, taking his talents to Washington State with lofty expectations. Unfortunately, his time with the Cougars was cut short due to a shoulder injury, limiting him to just six games. In those six contests, Coward averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 40 percent from three point range, tantalizing with his all-around skill set before his lone season with the program came to an abrupt end.

Despite the setback, Coward initially entered the 2025 NBA Draft before entering the transfer portal, keeping all of his options on the table. He later committed to Duke, but as his draft stock began to rise during the pre-draft process, Coward decided to keep his name in the draft rather than return to school for a fifth year of eligibility.

Now a member of the Grizzlies, who traded a pair of first-round picks and second-round picks to acquire his rights from the Trail Blazers, Coward joins another former Cougars star in Jaylen Wells, who was selected by Memphis in the 2024 NBA Draft. Facing the void left by departed star Desmond Bane, who the team traded to Orlando prior to the draft, they will look for Coward to contribute immediately.

At 6-6 with long arms, Coward fits the mold of the modern NBA wing as true three-and-D player. He can guard multiple positions, handle the ball, and knock down shots from deep. His intelligence and feel for the game allow him to make plays as a passer as well, evidenced by his uptick in assists per game in a small sample size at Washington State.

NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie of *The Athletic* praised Coward’s skill set, saying, [“He has everything it takes to turn into a useful, starting-quality NBA player.” ](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6451301/2025/06/25/nba-draft-grades-analysis-2025-jvecenie-hollinger/?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)

Now, after stops at three colleges and a breakout pre-draft process that has taken him from little-known Division III recruit to the league, Coward finds himself with a real opportunity on a Grizzlies team looking to build off of last year’s playoffs appearance and in need of scoring off the bench on the perimeter.