Fresno, California – Of the more than 8 billion people on the planet, only 59 heard their name called in the NBA draft this year.
Cédric Coward of Fresno was part of it.
He knew he could reach this level despite all the difficult tests,
The central graduate taken with the 11th choice in total by the Trailblazers, his rights were exchanged to the Grizzlies of Memphis.
“Kissing the process, kissing the trip and giving all of this to the basketball game,” said Cedric.
His journey to the NBA is more like a Hollywood script than to reality.
“This is the moment when I am dreamed of because I don’t even remember the age of years,” said Cedric.
His collegial career began in darkness at Willamette University, a small school of division 3 in Salem, Oregon.
There, the native of Fresno made the average of a double-double, setting up 19 points and 12 plates per game.
From there, he transferred in eastern Washington, in the state of Washington, and even committed a verbal commitment to Duke during the offseason.
I always knew he was going to be a special child, no matter what he was going to do, “said Karlos Grier, deputy coach of the Central East.
Karlos is not the only Cedric secondary coaches to have seen something special at the start.
I noticed that in 8th year, “said Greg Streets, former head coach of the Central Basketball team.
Sreets says that Cedric approached him in 8th year, asking to play the four years at university.
It was something that no player had ever asked him before.
Once I saw him in the gymnasium and his work ethics, I knew he was going to strive to work hard, “said Streets.
Focusing on academics, Cedric does not letter from the four years, but his ambition inspired promising grizzly ones.
” Child, I came to all his games, I will not lie. Motivate for the city, just to know that Fresno has a lot of talents and people are leaving it, “said Elijah Graves, central goalkeeper.
On paper, it still doesn’t make sense.
But Cedric hopes that his scenario is the one that can be written several times.
“For all children who are similar to me, hearing my story, you can continue if you believe in you,” said Cedric.
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