𝗡𝗼. 𝟭 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗬𝗨……

𝗡𝗼. 𝟭 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗬𝗨……

 

In a major recruiting win for the Blue Devils, Cedric Coward—the consensus No. 1 high school basketball player in America—has officially committed to Duke University, choosing the historic powerhouse over strong pushes from Tennessee, the Florida Gators, and BYU.

 

The 6-foot-7 small forward out of Montverde Academy (FL) made his announcement Monday afternoon via a live-streamed event that drew thousands of viewers nationwide. Flanked by his family and high school coach, Coward unzipped his jacket to reveal a Duke T-shirt, sending shockwaves through the college basketball community.

 

“This decision was about more than basketball,” Coward said during the announcement. “Duke offers me the opportunity to grow on and off the court. The coaching staff believed in my vision, and I believe in theirs.”

 

Coward’s commitment is a significant addition to Jon Scheyer’s already elite 2025 recruiting class. Known for his explosive athleticism, two-way versatility, and mature court vision, Coward has been at the top of nearly every major recruiting board since his breakout junior season. He averaged 23.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals last season, while leading Montverde to a national championship.

 

“Cedric is a program-changing player,” said ESPN national recruiting analyst Paul Biancardi. “He brings leadership, elite defensive intensity, and a polished offensive game. This is the kind of player who can take Duke deep into March.”

 

While Tennessee, Florida, and BYU all made compelling cases—with BYU reportedly offering a significant NIL package and Florida boasting home-state loyalty—Coward cited Duke’s legacy of developing NBA-ready wings and their recent uptick in player-led culture as deciding factors.

 

“The culture Coach Scheyer is building is real,” Coward added. “I talked to past and current players—guys like Brandon Ingram and Jayson Tatum—and they all said the same thing: Duke doesn’t just build athletes, they build men.”

 

Duke fans flooded social media moments after the announcement, welcoming Coward with open arms and dubbing him “The Next Cameron Legend.” Many insiders expect Coward to be a one-and-done candidate, with several NBA scouts already labeling him a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

 

This commitment not only gives Duke a headline name but potentially shifts the balance of power in the upcoming NCAA season. With Coward now in the fold, the Blue Devils could enter the 2025–26 season as preseason favorites.

 

As for Coward, he’s ready to embrace the challenge ahead. “Duke fans, I’m locked in. Let’s go make history.”