AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team could bolster its front line with a familiar face.

Former UMass forward Trey Lang, who left the program after the 2007-08 season but remained enrolled at the school, has been working out with the Minutemen and could rejoin them this season.

Coach Derek Kellogg said a return by Lang is possible, but both he and Lang declined further comment on the player's status until it becomes official.

Lang and Bud Gaffney, the younger brother of recently graduated big man Tony Gaffney, took part in the team's workout on Friday. Gaffney and Lang would likely be walk-ons this season.

Lang, a 6-foot-7 forward, was highly touted coming out of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., and was recruited by Oregon and several Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference schools. His father Andrew Lang played in the NBA for 12 seasons.

As a freshman in 2007-08, Lang never cracked Travis Ford's rotation and appeared in just four games for a total of eight minutes.

He left the Minutemen after that season and was expected to transfer but remained on campus.

Lang would be a sophomore for his athletic eligibility because last year would be considered a redshirt season.

At 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, he could give Kellogg another inside option, which would be particularly valuable after Tyrell Lynch was dismissed from the program last week.

READY FOR MORE - After an inconsistent but promising freshman season, David Gibbs returns as the likely starter for the Minutemen at point guard.

Gibbs, who spent the summer in Amherst, said he's ready.

"I have no choice but to be ready. This is going to be a big year so I have to step up and show what I can do," said Gibbs, who talked with graduated point guard Chris Lowe when he visited Amherst last week.

"I'm a lot more confident," Gibbs added. "I was talking with C-Lowe who came back last week about confidence. He said #You know you can play just go out and play hard.'"

Kellogg challenged Gibbs to raise his game. "If you look at the preseason magazines, one of the questions they have for us is at the point guard spot. I think that's a great challenge for David," Kellogg said. "His level of work has been raised tremendously since last year. I think he's maturing day-by-day as a player and a person."

Like Lowe, being a vocal leader does not come naturally for the quiet Gibbs.

"Coach has been working with me on being more vocal. I'm quiet. I don't really like talking that much," Gibbs said. "But I have to now, so I have to get over it."

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.