1

Tony Gaffney's NBA dream is gaining momentum.

The former University of Massachusetts big man's numbers weren't eye-popping in the NBA summer league, but the Los Angeles Lakers saw something they liked. The NBA champions invited the Berkley native and Northfield Mount Hermon graduate to their fall camp.

Gaffney's father, who is also named Tony, confirmed the invite.

"He's excited. He's worked hard. To get on the summer league, is one thing, to get to the point where they want to bring you in in the fall is something else," his father said.

Gaffney, who played at Boston University before transferring to UMass, couldn't be reached for comment, but expressed excitement about the invite on his Facebook page:

"Wooooo ... just got the official invite to Lakers veterans camp baby!! Sept 14th til late October at least!"

In four summer league games, including two starts, Gaffney averaged 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game.

Gaffney averaged 11.5 points and 10.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per game in his senior year at UMass, huge leaps from his career averages of 3.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in the first three years of his career. He was the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team all-conference selection. He was third in the nation in blocks and 17th in rebounds.

Despite playing inside at 6-foot-8, Gaffney generated a considerable buzz from his pre-draft workouts and positioned himself as a potential second-round pick. Gaffney wasn't selected but quickly earned an invitation to play for the Lakers' summer league team in Las Vegas.

FORBES WAITING - Former Minuteman Gary Forbes is hoping for an invite to an NBA team's fall camp as well. Forbes, who played for the NBA Development League Select Team in the summer league averaged 17.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30.8 minutes.

BAYLOR DATE OFFICIAL - The home-and-home series between UMass and Baylor is official. The Minutemen will play at Baylor on Jan. 23. The Bears will be in Amherst in 2009-10. Former UMass athletic director Ian McCaw holds the same position at Baylor.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. For more UMass coverage, including a UMass sports blog, go to http://www.gazettenet.com/category/sports/umass-sports.