The player dubbed “Jalen Williams of the 2025 NBA Draft” is none other than Cedric Coward, who made a big splash at the NBA Draft Combine. He impressed not only with his skills but also with his physical abilities. Since then, he has quickly become one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Right after that, reports from the Combine in Chicago suggested that Coward won’t be heading to Durham. Instead, he plans to keep his name in the draft. This news has sparked a wave of buzz around him. Some have even compared him to Jalen Williams, a former mid-major player who became a first-round pick.
Cougars Star Cedric Coward Already Making Waves After Declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft
Coward wasn’t always a lock for the NBA Draft. Things started to change only after his standout performance at the NBA Combine.
At first, Coward entered the transfer portal and committed to Duke. But everything shifted after he impressed scouts in Chicago. He measured 6’5.25″ without shoes, weighed 213 pounds, and showed off a massive 7’2″ wingspan. That’s when people really started paying attention.
Then, the Washington State forward made his intentions clear. “I’m 100% focused on the draft,” he said. Unless the feedback turns negative, he plans to keep his name in. Duke’s coaching staff knows the situation, and it’s becoming less likely that he’ll ever wear a Blue Devils jersey.
Basketball analyst Jeff Goodman also weighed in during The Field of 68. Based on what he’s heard from NBA insiders, he believes Coward will stay in the draft. The deadline to withdraw is May 28, but many expect him to be a first-round pick in June. All signs point in one direction—Coward is heading to the draft.
Cedric Coward has been dubbed the “Jalen Williams” of this class, as a rapidly rising mid-major prospect with strikingly similar size & length.
The prototypical wing’s efficiency & volume (w/ a small sample size & comp caveat) mirrored ‘20 Towns’ playstyle as a stretch 5. pic.twitter.com/N9sa7diklg
— #InSnyderWeTrust (@dlee4three) May 16, 2025
Twitter user @dlee4three summed up Coward’s rise perfectly. He called him the “Jalen Williams” of the 2025 class, noting their similar size and length. Moreover, the 21-year-old’s scoring efficiency and volume remind him of Karl-Anthony Towns’ 2020 season, when Towns played as a stretch 5.”
While Coward isn’t a center, his shooting ability and efficiency resemble Towns’ style from that year.
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With his draft stock soaring, the Cougars’ star is now seen as a player who could take the NBA by storm, much like Williams did in 2022. Scouts and analysts continue to track his development, and if his upward trajectory holds, he could cement himself as one of the biggest surprises of the upcoming draft.
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