Most reports of Cedric Coward's commitment to Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff on Monday evening are not worded correctly. After all, the Blue Devils have not actually "landed" the former Washington State and Eastern Washington forward just yet.

Duke made a splash in the transfer portal by landing Washington State star Cedric Coward. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season for WSU, and his commitment marks the first addition the Blue Devils have made via the transfer portal this cycle.

Cedric Coward’s basketball career is proof of his tenacity and faith in himself. Coward’s journey from modest beginnings at Division III Willamette University to joining the illustrious Duke Blue Devils has been anything but typical.