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CHATTANOOGA---Junior Ramon Vila is the lone returning starter for the Chattanooga Mocs in the post area (power forward/center). That would normally cause a little trepidation for a coaching staff, but the Mocs feel good about their group of forwards.
 
"Offensively, it has the makeup from a skill standpoint of what I like to play with," Coach Lamont Paris began. "From there, you're constantly trying to improve...athleticism, size, length...those kinds of things. Overall, we feel really good.
 
"For me personally, they're the type of players you like to have."
 
One reason is the sheer volume of student-athletes they can throw at the area. There is a great versatility in the group from playing a big, small, quick or powerful frontcourt.
 
There's just two returners in Vila and sophomore Justin Brown. Junior Rod Johnson gets his first action after redshirting 2018-19, while Prosper Obidiebube, Jaden Frazier and possibly Stefan Kenić join the mix this year. We'll talk more about grad transfer Matt Ryan (Vanderbilt) and freshman Grant Ledford with the wings, but they're a part of that versatile group mentioned above.
 
Vila is the squad's leading returning scorer and rebounder at 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. He shot 62.5 percent with a myriad of low post maneuvers. Vila joins Chris Mims (64.8%, 1996-97) and Justin Tuoyo (64.5%, 2016-17) to shoot better than 60 percent from the field while making at least four shots per game.
 
"I've said this before, we encouraged Ramon to work on being the most improved player in the league," Paris shared. "It's something realistic for him to target. He's really working on changing and adding some things to his game that maybe aren't natural for him.
 
"It shows...he's improved tremendously getting ready for this season."
 
Brown was solid off the bench playing in 25 games, starting one. He averaged posting 3.5 points and 2.5 boards in 10.8 minutes per appearance. Brown impressed at the Citadel tallying 10 points and five rebounds in 11 minutes despite not playing the prior seven contests. That included a big play on an in-bounds pass with one second on the shot clock draining a baseline, turnaround jumper in the three-point triumph.
 

 
Johnson impressed during the Mocs exhibition tour of the Bahamas in early August. He played anywhere from the 3 to the 5 on the islands so flexibility is a definite calling card for the Wisconsin native. Talk about an interesting journey too. Started his collegiate career as a point guard at DII Northern Michigan before taking a post position Highlands Community College as a sophomore catching the eye of Paris and staff.
 
Obidiebube is one of the most athletic performers on the team. He profiles best upfront currently, but his shot has the range of a stretch 4, and his hops and willingness to rebound allow him to provide depth at the 5. Versatile. Frazier is a big with skills. He can shoot it too, but as he grows into his big 6-10 frame, he's intriguing in this system.
 
Kenić is the wild card. A summer transfer from Cleveland State, he's currently in the waiver process with the NCAA to play immediately. He has two years of eligibility and would pose problems when the coaches want to go big with a line of Ryan-Kenić-Vila across the front.
 
There's a lot to tinker with as Paris and staff could go into mad scientist mode this year. That big lineup, waiver willing, to a smaller front say Jonathan Scott-Ledford-Obidiebube maybe playing Johnson in any three of those positions.
 
"I think everybody would like to have as much versatility as they can," Paris noted. "It wasn't like we specifically targeted this much of it in recruiting, there were specific needs, availability and personalities we liked.
 
"Aside from being able to play a number of different ways and taking advantage of matchups, the biggest thing is what it allows you do when you have injuries, long term, nagging, whatever the case. You can handle the situation better. It helps in practice too.
 
"It's been said 'iron sharpens iron'," he continued. "There's no question being versatile is something most people would hold in high regard."
 
It may not have been planned, but that kind of flexibility constructing lineups should serve Chattanooga well in 2019-20. The first look at the squad in game action comes Saturday, Oct. 26, in an exhibition game with Covenant. The season opens Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Eastern Kentucky, followed by the home opener that Saturday against historic rival Tennessee State.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased on GoMocs.com (at the link above) or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or 425-5740. Fans can also stop by the Gate 1 ticket office at McKenzie Arena.
 
Full season tickets range from $105-190 for lower-level reserved seating. While your best per-game pricing is with season tickets, single game is now available as well with pricing is from $12 ($10 if bought in advance) to $22 ($20 advance) on gamedays for sections at the 100 and 200 levels.
 
There are several group discounts with savings of up to 60-plus percent on 100 and 200-level seats. That starts with a minimum of 10 tickets. Contact A.J. Lewis and Mark Curtis at (423) 425-5740 or 425-5872.
 
ROSTER REVEAL SERIES
GoMocs.com's summer roster reveal series is complete. Here's the list with the links to the feature stories on each in order of release:
 
4 – Maurice Commander: http://bit.ly/Commander4
1 – Jonathan Scott: http://bit.ly/Scott01
0 – A.J. Caldwell: http://bit.ly/Caldwell0
15 – Ramon Vila: http://bit.ly/RVila15
32 – Matt Ryan: http://bit.ly/Ryan32 
5 – Jaden Frazer: http://bit.ly/Frazier5
3 – David Jean-Baptiste: http://bit.ly/DJ-B3
11 – Rod Johnson: http://bit.ly/rjohnson11
14 – Grant Ledford: http://bit.ly/ledford14
24 – Prosper Obidiebube: http://bit.ly/Prosper0bi24
13 – Malachi Smith: http://bit.ly/MSmith19
12 – Ashton Smith: http://bit.ly/ASmith12
10 – Alex Tostado: http://bit.ly/Tostado10
2 – Jamaal Walker: http://bit.ly/JWalker2
25 – Justin Brown: http://bit.ly/JBrown25
23 – Trey Doomes: http://bit.ly/TDoomes23
 
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Trey Doomes (dooms)
David Jean-Baptiste (GENE-bapt-TEEST)
Stefan (stef-fun) Kenić (ken-NICH)
Prosper Obidiebube (oh-bee-dee-EH-BU-bay)
Alex Tostado (toe-STAH-doh)
Ramon (ruh-MOAN) Vila (VEE-lah)
 
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