The past few months have largely been a time of optimism for those associated with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball program, with legitimate reasons to believe the Mocs might make 2020-21 their best season yet since Lamont Paris took over three years ago.
Despite several changes to the roster, a strong nucleus would return. The Mocs felt good about some backcourt additions - especially sophomore guard Malachi Smith, who sat out last season after transferring from Wright State - and they still had the experienced combination of guard David Jean-Baptiste and forward Ramon Vila.
That combo is now a player short after Vila recently announced on Instagram that he would forgo his final season of eligibility in Chattanooga and start his professional career back home in Spain. When the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports in mid-March, Vila was among the Mocs who remained on campus, which in his case meant being an ocean away from his family.
"I want to start this by saying thank you to everyone that has been with me these past two and a half years," the 6-foot-8, 242-pound Barcelona native wrote. "Coaches, teammates, classmates, fans, etc. I've had an amazing time at UTC and I'll be forever thankful for the opportunity coach Paris gave me at Chattanooga, where I enjoyed playing the sport I love and I got my degree.
"With all that is going on right now and all the uncertainty around the NCAA I feel that this is the best decision for me. I fell in love with Chattanooga during my visit, and this city will always be my second home. I'll miss you guys! Go Mocs! #MoanyOut"
Vila's exit creates a huge void in the paint for UTC. This offseason the Mocs added South Alabama graduate transfer Josh Ayeni, listed at 6-8, 212 on the Jaguars' 2019-20 roster, and they return Stefan Kenic (6-9, 230), who averaged 15.6 minutes in 27 games, but they are the only two forwards with any notable college experience on the roster. As of now, the only other available options are sophomore Prosper Obidiebube (6-8, 205) and redshirt freshman Jaden Frazier (6-10, 210).
The Mocs have also added KC Hankton (6-8, 215) from Saint Louis and Mark Tikhonenko (6-10, 240) from Sam Houston State, but both transfers are expected to sit out the 2020-21 schedule barring a NCAA waiver granting immediate eligibility. That might also be the case for guard Darius Banks, who transferred from James Madison.
Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Ramon Vila dunks during a home game against Mercer on Feb. 22. Vila played for UTC the past two seasons after beginning his college career at Arizona State.Vila joined the Mocs in January 2018 after playing as a freshman from Arizona State, but NCAA transfer rules kept him off the court until the following season. He played in 55 games during his UTC career, averaging 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 62.2%, which is the top percentage in Mocs history for players who averaged at least four shots per game.
Last season, Vila averaged 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while making the All-Southern Conference third team and helping the Mocs go 20-13, an eight-win improvement from 2018-19. He went out with a bang, earning all-tournament honors after averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games in Asheville, North Carolina, as the Mocs reached the league semifinals in early March. Included in that was a double-double in the quarterfinal victory against UNC Greensboro as Vila totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes.
He is the sixth player from last season who won't return for the Mocs this year. Gone via graduation are guard Jonathan Scott and forward Matt Ryan, an All-SoCon second-team pick last season. Lost as transfers are guard Maurice Commander (Illinois-Chicago) and forwards Justin Brown (Wagner) and Rod Johnson (Western Illinois).
Paris placed junior guard A.J. Caldwell on scholarship after last season, but with Vila's decision, UTC's fourth-year coach now has another grant to give as the calendar flips to August.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.