ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball program took full advantage of the graduate transfer terms over the last two basketball campaigns. First it was Thomas Smallwood in 2018-19 before Matt Ryan starred for the 20-win 2020 edition.
 
"One of the biggest things grad transfers provide is experience in all facets of developing a program," Paris began. "It's been good both ways...we've been able to provide opportunity to play more in different roles with a mutual benefit."
 
The numbers for both far exceeded their previous totals. Smallwood's was a huge step forward befitting his 7-foot stature. After limited minutes at UAB, he started 15 of 32 appearances in the blue & gold averaging 6.0 points per game leading a record-breaking year at of all places, the 3pt line.
 
Smallwood shot 46.8 percent beyond the arc as the squad as a whole set a new standard for threes made with 290. The development work done from his arrival and even after he completed the season paid big dividends not only for the Mocs, but also the Alp-sized Frenchmen who just completed his first season of professional ball in his homeland.
 
"It was a really good year because I wanted a bigger role than I had at UAB," Smallwood shared. "It was good mostly for my confidence leading into my first pro season."
 
Even though he was here just one year, his development piece continued beyond his final game in the Scenic CIty.
 

 
Ryan came in with a bit more fanfare. He began his collegiate career as a key reserve on strong Notre Dame squads before spending a year as a starter at Vanderbilt. A coaching change led him to consider a move that landed in the Scenic City. It was an unmitigated success.
 
"Leaving Vanderbilt, I was looking for somewhere to develop and have a big role," Ryan stated. "From a grad transfer perspective, it's a very unique situation. You literally have one year, you have to make the right choice and there's no room for error.
 
"Coming here. it was everything I signed up for."
 
The New York native led the Mocs averaging 15.4 points per game. That included a closing stretch posting 19.2 ppg over the last 10 reaching the 500 mark with 504 for the season. He's the first Moc since Z. Mason in 2014 to top 500 and just the fourth this century.
 

 
It's a matter of opportunity matching the vision of the coaching staff. The Mocs, led by Coach Lamont Paris, have had great success with both grad transfers and 4-year guys. The two leading scorers in 2020 were Ryan and Ramon Vila who came from Arizona State mid-year in 2017-18, Paris' first on the Chattanooga bench.
 
The key is an unwavering commitment to the culture developing within the program. A solid nucleus returns with seniors Vila, David Jean-Baptiste and Stefan Kenić joined by juniors A.J. Caldwell, Trey Doomes and Alex Tostado along with sophomores Grant Ledford, Prosper Obidiebube and Ashton Smith. Transfer Malachi Smith and redshirt freshmen Jaden Frazier and Jamaal Walker join the mix as well.
 

 
It will be interesting to follow and see where Paris and staff augment this group poised to take the next step in the nationally-respected Southern Conference race.
 
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