Former Washington State University guard Cedric Coward was the 11th pick by the Portland Trailblazers in the 2025 NBA Draft, before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Coward’s pick ties Klay Thompson as the highest overall pick in Wazzu history. Coward became the 19th player from Washington State to be selected as a top-60 pick and marks the third-consecutive NBA Draft with a Cougar selected, marking the first time since the 1970-72 NBA Drafts with WSU players taken in three consecutive years.
Coward, a Fresno, California native, had his WSU career cut short just six games into his senior season after arriving on campus last summer from Eastern Washington University. Entering his senior season, Coward was named to the West Coast Conference All-Preseason Team and delivered three 20-point performances in his first six games, including a 30-point career-high against Northern Colorado before a left shoulder injury in late November ended his college career.
