As Cedric ͏Coward prepares ͏to hear his ͏name called in ͏the first round of the ͏20͏25 NBA Draft, many are ͏beginning to look ͏beyond the improbable ascent and ask: who are the people behind this͏ storybook journey? ͏The answer lies in two powerful figures, his mother and his stepfather,͏ whose influence ͏quietly ͏shaped ͏his ͏life in every meaningful way.
Meet Shanel Moore, Cedric Coward’s mother
Cedric Coward was raised in northeast Fresno by his mother, Shanel Moore, who stood as the bedrock of his upbringing. A strong presence throughout his academic and athletic development, Moore helped mold Coward into more than just a basketball player. She encouraged him to explore avenues that would strengthen his college applications, pushing him toward leadership roles and academic excellence.
Coward responded by immersing himself in after-school clubs, including the Black Student Union and the Fresno County African-American Leadership Conference Board, where he was one of only a few high schoolers selected. He graduated as a National High School Scholar and was accepted into 11 colleges.
Welcome to Duke, Cedric Coward! 😈💙 #𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔅𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔥𝔬𝔬𝔡 pic.twitter.com/2YcD16JpDg
— DukeLights 𝕏 (@DukeLightsX) April 29, 2025
Despite his attachment to home, Moo͏re made ͏sure he did not take the easy route. Coward admitted, “I didn’t want to leave, but they wanted me to make sure I͏ was comfortable being uncomfortable, and to explore ͏the world.” That nudge toward independence became a͏ turning͏ point͏, forcing him to chase growth on his own ͏terms.
Shanel also shares a close relationship with her father, Maxie Parks, a UCLA track legend and 1976 Olympic gold medalist. The athleticism Cedric now channels on the hardwood is part of her lineage. “His athletic hero,” she said of Maxie, adding, “Maxie has medals everywhere. He wants those too.” This connection to Olympic greatness served as both motivation and a blueprint for what Coward would come to embody.
All you need to know about Ray Moore
While Ced͏ric carries the surname of his biological ͏father, his true paternal bond is with Ray M͏oore, his stepfather, whom ͏he considers his real dad. Coward chose͏ to retain the surname “Coward,” not as a tribute to his biological father, but as a way to honor his strong bond with͏ his paternal͏ grandfather, Francis Coward
“I’m really close with him, ͏super close,” Coward ͏shared. “And so to honor him, I kept the last name, ͏because if I’m͏ gonna͏ ͏do it ͏for anybody, I’m͏ go͏nna͏ do it for him͏.”
Ray͏ Mo͏ore played a vital role in͏ his upbringing, providing daily guidance and support.͏ Together͏ with Shan͏el͏, Ray created an environment where education and character were valued just as ͏highly as sport. While Coward’s path ͏did not͏ follow the conventional route͏ of an elite high school athlete, ͏it͏ was his parents’ insistence on perseverance ͏and excellence ͏that became the ͏constant.
Though Ray tends to remain out of the spotlight, his importance in Cedric’s journey is unmistakable. His influence helped forge the mindset Cedric carries into each battle on the court, a mindset not built in basketball gyms but at home.
Cedric Coward’s rise to the NBA defies almost every norm in today’s basketball world. But for those who know the values instilled by his mother and father, his success is less a miracle and more a reflection of the principles that shaped him.
