UTEP Men’s Hoops Adds Eric Vila to Talented 2019 Signing Class

UTEP Miners

EL PASO, Texas –UTEP Basketball Head Coach Rodney Terry announced the addition of Eric Vila to the 2019 signing class. The 6-11 forward is currently playing at Northwest Florida State College. Vila will be a redshirt junior and will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2019-20 campaign.

"Eric is a player we have always loved because of his versatility, leadership, basketball IQ and passion for the game," Terry said. "Eric brings a tremendous amount of experience with his college experience along with his international experience playing for his national team for as long as he has. Eric knows our system and culture very well being with us at Fresno State and is a player I have built a great trust and relationship with. He is a player who can stretch the floor, make plays off the bounce, is a really good passer, has great length and mobility at 6-10/6-11, defensively. We're really thrilled that Eric believed in our vision to build something build something special here at UTEP. It's a very exciting time to be a Miner and we are really excited about what we are continuing to build here in El Paso."

Vila has played seven games thus far for Northwest Florida State College and is averaging 10.7 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. The native of Girona, Spain, is shooting over 51 percent from the field, playing 25.3 minutes per contest for the Raiders. Vila scored a season-high 16 points (7-11 field goals) against USC Salkehatchie (Nov. 2), while hitting double-digit figures at Coastal Alabama – North (10 points), versus Palm Beach State College (13 points) and against Harford Community College (13 points).

Vila is no stranger to Terry's culture and mentality as he played for him at Fresno State during the 2017-18 season after transferring from Texas A&M (appeared in 15 games for the Aggies). Vila has also played for his national team in Europe after Terry left Fresno State. He competed for the FIBA U19 World Cup for Spain last year and averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Vila scored 24 points, pulled down 11 boards and dished out three assists against Argentina during the U19 World Cup quarter-finals in July 2017. He opened the World Cup with an 18-point, 14-rebound performance against Japan, while he amassed 15 rebounds against Ireland in the round of 16.

Back in 2016, Vila helped U18 FC Barcelona Lassa claim the title at the ADIDAS Next Generation Tournament in Berlin. He scored a game-high 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range.

Vila joins sharpshooter Brendan Wenzel and playmaker Jesse Zarzuela as the 2019 signees. That trio will join UTEP's five Division I transfers – Bryson Williams, Souley Boum, Tydus Verhoeven, Anthony Tarke and Ountae Campbell, along with freshman Deon Stroud, who will all be eligible next season. Vila will provide more depth, while adding more size to very formidable frontcourt in Williams (6-8), Verhoeven (6-9), Efe Odigie (6-9) and Kaosi Ezeagu (6-10).

"Recruiting is 24-7 and it's a never-ending process. My staff did a phenomenal job throughout this whole recruiting process," Terry said. "They've worked tirelessly locating guys who can be successful off the court and on the court."

Print Friendly Version