Mocs Basketball Team Lands 6’8, 240-Pound Arizona State Transfer Ramon Vila

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—The injury-depleted Chattanooga Mocs got some good news during the holiday break. Forward Ramon Vila chose to transfer to Gig City from Arizona State.

Vila brings three years of eligibility playing just the 2016-17 campaign in Tempe. He is eligible to take the court for the Mocs in December 2018 after the completion of Fall Semester finals.

It’s an exciting addition. Not only did he get solid experience in his first year in the States playing double-digit minutes per game in the Pac-12 Conference, but he also boasts an impressive international resume for his native Spain. And being 6-8, 240-lbs., does not hurt.

“He addresses a specific need,” Coach Lamont Paris shared prior to Thursday’s practice. “He’s had experience on the international level as well as playing at a high level here. He was in a lot of situations defensively and had to compete at a high level.”

Vila started four of his 33 appearances at Arizona State averaging 2.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per contest. Three of his four starts came in league play. He made 64.7 percent from the field.

He represented Spain in nearly 50 FIBA games tallying 9.6 points and 5.1 boards per game in six years total. That included a gold medal performance in the 2016 U20 European Championships where he starred in the title game with 18 points and 14 rebounds against Lithuania.

Vila made a return appearance in the 2017 U20 averaging 11.1 points per contest reaching the semifinals. He also earned roster spots on the 2013 U16 European Championships, 2014 U17 World Championships, 2015 U19 World Championships and 2015 U18 European Championships squads.

“Ramon is used to a variety of roles,” Paris continued. “He’s a very capable player on both ends of the floor. His game experience at Arizona State and internationally is important also.

“He’s very comfortable with the ball and has great feel for the game. I think he’ll shoot it eventually with range. He has good touch around the basket, but we’re committed to expanding his range. It wasn’t his role, at all, but he has enough touch that I anticipate he’ll be able to expand his range.

“Good passer…good feel for the game, really good feel defensively especially.”

Vila chose Chattanooga over Hofstra and Santa Clara. He joins the guard tandem of Maurice Commander (Curie Metro/Chicago, Ill.) and Donovann Toatley (Riverdale Baptist/Upper Marlboro, Md.), who signed National Letters of Intent in November, on the 2018-19 roster.