Injury may have stolen his final season, but after a strong showing at the combine, he’s more than worth a look.

I’ll admit, yesterday’s news about Yaxel Lendeborg pulling out of the draft hit me like a gut punch. There was a real chance he could’ve fallen right into the Phoenix Suns’ lap, and I genuinely believe he would’ve made an impact. My bet? He heads to Michigan, puts on a show, and winds up a lottery pick in 20256.

But disappointment is part of the process. So I’m brushing off the sting, pulling myself up off the mat, and getting back to work. Because the board is still full of prospects worth diving into. And I’ve really started to enjoy getting to know this season’s prospects.

Take another player, for example, who faced the same question: return to college or go pro? For him, it wasn’t NIL money pulling him back. It was the unfinished business. A chance to remind the world what he can do, after an untimely injury stole his season. He’s going pro.

Who am I talking about?

Cedric Coward, G, Washington State

• Height: 6’6”
• Weight: 213 pounds
• Age: 21 years old
• Experience: Two years at Eastern Washington, 6 games at Washington State
• 2024-25 Statistics: 17.7 points (55.7 FG%, 40.0 3PT%, 83.9 FT%), 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 0.8 steals

When I watch this kid, I immediately find myself leaning in. There’s something about his game, the way he carries himself in interviews, the flashes of potential. I just like him.

We only have six games of tape from his time at Washington State, after a torn labrum abruptly ended his season. But he played two full years at Eastern Washington before that. Across all three seasons, he’s a career 38.8% shooter from beyond the arc. And let me tell you, Coward can flat-out play.

He’s a modern scorer with a filthy step-back jumper. There’s a slight hitch in his three-point release, but it’s quick and confident, giving him just enough space to get it off. He scores at all three levels. That 7’2” wingspan? It helps him create separation and elevate above defenders, especially when paired with that already-lethal step-back. He can go left, go right, finish with either hand. The offensive game is raw, but undeniably real. And in the right system, he could grow into something special for the Suns.

I know what you’re thinking. We already have enough shooting guards. But this kid’s positional versatility opens things up. He’s strong enough to play the three in smaller lineups, and if we’re thinking long-term, knowing that Bradley Beal’s time in Phoenix likely has an expiration date, the timeline might line up perfectly for a player like this to emerge. He’s physical in the post, finishes well around the rim, and has that kind of natural scoring ability you can’t teach.

Defensively, he’s still a work in progress. He gambles too often, leading to missed rotations or careless fouls, something you see a lot from young players trying to do too much. And coming off an injury, confidence and reps will be key. But he’s resilient. He’s crafty. And he’s got the size and skill set to guard multiple positions, which only adds to the intrigue.

Stephen Gillespie of No Ceilings had this to say about Coward just last week:

Cedric Coward has shown a continuous upward trajectory that consists of increased production with increased levels of competition. His player type is one of the most coveted in the NBA. There are concerns surrounding his handle, but I feel they are overstated. Even if Coward isn’t an on-ball maestro yet, he isn’t the type of person you would bet against developing a good enough one. Every NBA team would love to have a 6’6” wing that has good size and athleticism, who connects on the majority of their jumpers, and can defend at a good clip. Literally every team.

His production this season could only be compared to Kon Knueppel—who is garnering real buzz as a potential #3 pick overall, and likely won’t fall outside the Top 7 or 8. I have Cedric 12th on my board right now, in a tier that extends up to #8. This isn’t just catching up with the crowd. This is film-based, intel-based analysis on a player who had a fair amount of questions centered on whether or not he would want to return to college.

With the noise surrounding Cedric Coward’s draft stock, the draft community is coming to grips with the idea that he will likely be drafted. We’re having to dive into his tape and the intel on him again, trying to measure how valid the noise might be. There are no certainties when it comes to evaluation, but Coward is as valid a lottery-level talent as there is in this class.

Let’s head to the mocks.

• ESPN: 30th to the Los Angeles Clippers
• Bleacher Report: 25th to the Orlando Magic
• NBA Draft.net: 26th to the Brooklyn Nets
• NBA Draft.net: 30th to the Los Angeles Clippers

One of my biggest questions with Cedric Coward’s decision to enter the draft is what kind of feedback he and his agent have received from NBA circles. Because if that intel suggests he’s trending toward the lottery, that might be all the incentive he needs to forgo his senior season at Washington State and go all-in on this year’s draft. And if that’s the case, the Suns likely won’t get a shot at him.

But if the mocks are accurate — if he’s hovering in that late-first, early-second range — then the door remains open. And that possibility is worth watching. Even with limited film, there’s enough to be genuinely excited about. He’s the kind of player who, if nurtured in the right situation, could quietly become a steal.

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