Arizona State basketball transfer Ramon Vila now at UTC

Ramon Vila, a recent transfer to UTC, watches Saturday's home men's basketball game against ETSU from the bench. The former Arizona State player is enrolled but will not be eligible to play until after the first semester of the 2018-19 school year.
Ramon Vila, a recent transfer to UTC, watches Saturday's home men's basketball game against ETSU from the bench. The former Arizona State player is enrolled but will not be eligible to play until after the first semester of the 2018-19 school year.

Ramon Vila, a 6-foot-8 forward who played most recently at Arizona State, has transferred to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

He has already enrolled but will not be eligible on the court until after the first semester of the 2018-19 school year. Vila, who has three college seasons remaining, chose to leave the Sun Devils after participating in their three preseason exhibitions and tallying eight points and five rebounds.

As a freshman, Vila averaged 2.6 points and two rebounds per game, earning four starts while playing in all 33 games.

He is the fourth newcomer to join the Mocs for next season. Incoming freshman guards Maurice Commander and Donovann Toatley signed in November, while guard Jerry Johnson Jr., who came from Fairfield (Conn.) University in the offseason and is sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules, will also be eligible to play as a junior.

photo Ramon Vila, a recent transfer to UTC, watches the action from the bench. The East Tennessee State University Buccaneers visited the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs in Southern Conference men's basketball action at McKenzie Arena on January 6, 2018.

At UTC, Vila will have a chance to join a frontcourt that has been extremely thin due to injuries this season. After junior Makinde London, who at 6-10 is the team's tallest healthy player, and senior Joshua Phillips (6-8), the rotation turns to a pair of freshmen - Jonathan Bryant (6-3), normally a guard, and A.J. Bowers (6-5), a walk-on.

The Mocs, who are 6-10 overall and 0-3 in the Southern Conference, have been without freshman Justin Brown (6-11) all season due to injury and minus the services of freshman Duane Moss (6-6). Freshman James Lewis (6-6) has been out as well, although he could return from a left shoulder injury soon.

The Mocs host SoCon co-leader Furman (12-4, 3-0) on Wednesday, the last of three consecutive home games before three straight on the road.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.

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