Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Cedric Coward’s remarkable journey from Division III basketball to the NBA was built around a close and supportive family in Fresno, California. The Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward was raised primarily by his mother, Shanel Moore, and his stepfather, Willie Ray Moore Jr., whom Cedric has described as his father in every meaningful sense. He also has a sister named Lauryn and comes from an impressive athletic bloodline through his maternal grandfather, Olympic champion Maxie Parks.
Coward’s family remained beside him throughout an unconventional basketball journey that took him from Willamette University to Eastern Washington, Washington State and eventually the NBA. His girlfriend, Inani Madden, was also part of the family group that joined him in New York for one of the biggest moments of his life: the 2025 NBA Draft.
Who Is Cedric Coward’s Girlfriend?
Cedric Coward’s publicly identified girlfriend is Inani Madden. She attracted wider attention when she accompanied Coward and members of his family to New York for the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Fresno Bee reported that Madden was among the people who attended the draft with Cedric, alongside his mother Shanel Moore, stepfather Willie Ray Moore Jr. and sister Lauryn.
Coward has generally kept the details of his romantic relationship away from extensive media coverage. However, he personally confirmed in an NBA.com interview that he had a girlfriend when discussing one of his interests away from basketball: baking.
Coward explained that watching his girlfriend and her mother bake encouraged him to try it himself. He eventually found baking therapeutic and revealed that red velvet was one of his favorite things to make.
Although Inani has been publicly identified as his girlfriend, Coward does not regularly discuss his relationship in interviews. As of now, reliable mainstream sources have not clearly confirmed that the couple is married.
Does Cedric Coward Have Children?
As of now, Cedric Coward does not have any publicly known children. His official basketball biographies, family interviews and major profiles do not mention him having a son or daughter.
Born on September 11, 2003, Coward has spent the early part of his adulthood focused heavily on developing his basketball career. His rise has been particularly unusual because he went from receiving little major college recruiting attention to becoming an NBA lottery pick.
Who Are Cedric Coward’s Parents?
Cedric Coward was raised by his mother, Shanel Moore, and stepfather, Willie Ray Moore Jr. Washington State’s official biography simply identifies Shanel and Ray as his parents, reflecting the parental role Ray has played throughout Cedric’s life.
CBS Sports later provided additional context, reporting that Ray is Coward’s stepfather and that Cedric considers him his real dad. Coward has maintained the surname of his biological father, but he has chosen to keep details about that relationship private.
Cedric Coward’s Mother: Shanel Moore
Shanel Moore is Cedric Coward’s mother and one of the most important figures behind his basketball journey.
Shanel raised Cedric in Fresno, California, and consistently encouraged him to work hard academically as well as athletically. Coward was not treated as someone whose only responsibility was basketball. He performed well academically during high school and participated in activities beyond sports.
His mother also helped push him outside his comfort zone. When Coward was deciding where to begin his college career, his family encouraged him to consider leaving home and experiencing a different environment rather than simply choosing the most comfortable option.
That decision became important when Coward attended Willamette University in Oregon. Willamette competed at the NCAA Division III level, far away from the glamour normally associated with future NBA lottery selections.
Coward responded by producing an outstanding freshman season, which opened the door to Eastern Washington and eventually Washington State.
Shanel remained closely involved throughout the process. When Coward finally reached the NBA, she was able to watch the results of years of perseverance become reality.
Cedric Coward’s Father: Willie Ray Moore Jr.
Willie Ray Moore Jr., often referred to simply as Ray Moore, is Cedric Coward’s stepfather.
Although Ray is not Cedric’s biological father, reliable reporting has made clear that Coward considers him his father because of the role he played in raising him.
Ray and Shanel helped create a household that emphasized discipline, independence and hard work. Their influence became especially important during periods when Cedric was receiving little attention from major college basketball programs.
Rather than allowing him to become discouraged by his lack of recruiting offers, his family encouraged him to continue developing and make the most of every opportunity available.
Ray also accompanied Coward to the 2025 NBA Draft in New York, where Cedric eventually heard his name called with the 11th overall selection.
What Is Known About Cedric Coward’s Biological Father?
Cedric Coward has chosen to keep information about his biological father private.
CBS Sports reported that Coward retained his biological father’s surname even though the two did not have a close relationship. Cedric politely declined to publicly discuss further details about the situation.
One reason the surname remains meaningful to him is his relationship with his paternal grandfather, Francis Coward. Cedric has maintained a close bond with Francis and has explained that keeping the Coward surname is partly a way of honoring his grandfather.
Because Cedric has specifically chosen not to publicly discuss the details surrounding his biological father, speculation about his identity or personal circumstances should be avoided.
Who Are Cedric Coward’s Siblings?
Cedric Coward has one publicly known sister, Lauryn Coward.
Lauryn Coward
Lauryn Coward is Cedric’s sister and has appeared alongside other members of the family during important moments in his basketball career.
Lauryn attended the 2025 NBA Draft celebrations with Cedric and their parents. She has also been photographed with their mother, Shanel, and grandfather Maxie Parks while supporting Cedric at Memphis Grizzlies games.
Unlike her brother, Lauryn has largely remained outside the sports media spotlight. There is comparatively little verified public information about her education, career or private life.
Her appearances at major events involving Cedric nevertheless demonstrate the close family support surrounding the Grizzlies player.
Who Is Cedric Coward’s Grandfather Maxie Parks?
One of the most fascinating parts of Cedric Coward’s family is his maternal grandfather, Maxie Parks.
Parks was an elite American sprinter who competed collegiately at UCLA before representing the United States internationally. He became an Olympic champion as a member of the United States men’s 4×400-meter relay team at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
Parks also achieved considerable success individually in the 400 meters and became one of the leading American runners of his era.
Coward has frequently described his grandfather as one of his closest friends and greatest sporting influences. The two have regularly discussed athletics, work ethic and the mental side of competition.
According to Coward, family members have even joked that he resembles Parks both physically and in personality.
Parks also helped his grandson understand that athletic success required considerably more than natural talent. Coward has recalled his grandfather emphasizing that anyone who wants to become great has to be willing to consistently put in the work.
How Maxie Parks Influenced Cedric Coward
Cedric’s relationship with Maxie Parks extended beyond conversations about professional sports.
During one summer when Cedric was a teenager, his family did not want him spending all of his free time playing video games. He therefore went to work with his grandfather on a construction project.
The experience required Coward to perform demanding physical work and taught him lessons about discipline and responsibility. Those lessons later became part of the mentality he carried into basketball.
Coward has described his grandfather as one of his best friends and has said they regularly communicated even after his basketball career took him away from Fresno.
Cedric Coward’s Grandmother
Cedric Coward was also extremely close to his maternal grandmother, who played an important role during his childhood.
She died before she was able to watch Cedric begin his NBA career, making his professional breakthrough particularly emotional for the family.
Maxie Parks later attended Cedric’s first NBA preseason experience, fulfilling a goal that he and his late wife had shared of seeing their grandson compete at basketball’s highest level.
Coward has continued to draw motivation from both of his maternal grandparents as he builds his professional career.
Cedric Coward’s Family and His Journey From Division III to the NBA
Cedric Coward’s route to professional basketball was far from conventional. After playing at Central High School in Fresno, he did not attract the level of recruiting attention normally associated with future NBA first-round picks.
He eventually enrolled at Division III Willamette University, where he immediately demonstrated that he could perform at a much higher level.
Coward averaged nearly 20 points and 12 rebounds per game during his freshman season and was named the Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year.
That success earned him an opportunity at Eastern Washington. He continued improving there before following coach David Riley to Washington State.
Coward played only six games during his Washington State season because of a shoulder injury, but his performances were impressive enough to attract significant NBA interest.
He initially committed to Duke University through the transfer portal but ultimately decided to remain in the NBA Draft after performing strongly during the pre-draft process.
Cedric Coward’s NBA Draft Moment With His Family
The 2025 NBA Draft represented the culmination of years of work for Coward and his family.
His mother Shanel, stepfather Ray, sister Lauryn and girlfriend Inani Madden joined him in New York as he waited to learn where his professional career would begin.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Coward with the 11th overall pick, but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The moment made Coward one of the most remarkable success stories of his draft class considering that only a few years earlier he had been playing Division III basketball.
His grandfather Maxie Parks was unable to attend the draft in person, but Coward made sure to include him in the celebration. Their relationship was especially meaningful because Parks understood what it was like to reach the highest level of a sport.
Cedric Coward’s Career With the Memphis Grizzlies
Coward began his NBA career with Memphis during the 2025-26 season and quickly established himself as one of the league’s promising young players.
His rookie season ended with Coward earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors, providing another major milestone for a player who entered college without a traditional Division I basketball opportunity.
His rise also gave his family the opportunity to watch years of sacrifices turn into success at the professional level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedric Coward’s Family
Who is Cedric Coward’s girlfriend?
Cedric Coward’s publicly identified girlfriend is Inani Madden. She attended the 2025 NBA Draft with Coward and members of his family.
Is Cedric Coward married?
As of now, there is no sufficiently reliable mainstream confirmation that Cedric Coward is married.
Does Cedric Coward have children?
No publicly verified reports indicate that Cedric Coward has any children as of now.
Who is Cedric Coward’s mother?
Cedric Coward’s mother is Shanel Moore. She raised him in Fresno, California, and has been one of the strongest supporters of his basketball career.
Who is Cedric Coward’s father?
Cedric Coward was raised by his stepfather, Willie Ray Moore Jr., whom he considers his father. Coward has chosen to keep details about his biological father private.
Why does Cedric Coward have a different surname from Ray Moore?
Coward kept the surname of his biological father. He has also explained that the Coward name is meaningful because of his close relationship with his paternal grandfather, Francis Coward.
Does Cedric Coward have siblings?
Yes. Cedric Coward has one publicly known sister named Lauryn.
Who is Cedric Coward’s grandfather?
Cedric Coward’s maternal grandfather is Maxie Parks, an Olympic champion who won gold with the United States in the men’s 4×400-meter relay at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Where is Cedric Coward from?
Cedric Coward was born and raised in Fresno, California, where he attended Central High School.
Who does Cedric Coward play for?
Cedric Coward plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. He was selected 11th overall by Portland in the 2025 NBA Draft before his draft rights were traded to Memphis.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
