Spanish post Paula Valiño Ramos signs with Hawkeyes women

Hawk Central

IOWA CITY, Ia. — Back in May, Iowa assistant coach Jan Jensen told Hawk Central the team wasn't looking locally to fill its remaining 2017-18 scholarships.

The Iowa huddle will feature a new player next year: Spain's Paula Valiño Ramos, who signed with the Hawkeyes Tuesday morning.

Turns out "locally" may have meant "inside the United States."

Because on Tuesday morning, Iowa announced Spanish post Paula Valiño Ramos had signed to play for the Hawkeyes in 2017-18. Valiño Ramos is a 6-foot-3 forward with high school, regional and national team experience, averaging 19.7 points and 13.3 rebounds as a high school senior at the Spanish National U18 Club Championship.

She's a steal this late in the recruiting process.

"We are excited to have Paula join our team in August," head coach Lisa Bluder said via a news release. "Paula comes from Spain and will bring us depth in the post position. She is an exceptional student as well. She will thrive in the classroom setting."

Valiño Ramos, from Ourense, Spain, attended IES Otero Pedrayo High School. She averaged 15.3 points, 12 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a freshman at Spain's U15 Club Championship. As a sophomore, she co-captained Spain's U16 national team that finished fourth at the FIBA European Championship.

She played her junior season in the U.S. as an exchange student at Bovina High School in Bovina, Texas.

Iowa now has two open scholarships remaining for 2017-18. Rising sophomore guard Bre Cera transferred to Milwaukee last week.

Vanlño Ramos will join the Hawkeyes in August. Iowa began its summer workouts last week.

Matthew Bain covers preps, recruiting and the Hawkeyes for the Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Des Moines Register and HawkCentral. Contact him at mbain@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @MatthewBain_.