AMHERST, Mass. - UMass' Tony Gaffney has been invited to the Los Angeles Lakers veterans training camp starting in October after impressing the team during the NBA Summer League. "I'm thrilled and honored to be considered for the Lakers' veterans camp," Gaffney said on Monday night from his home in Berkley, Mass. "To play on the same floor with Kobe Bryant and the defending world champions with a chance to make the roster is truly special. I couldn't be more thrilled and hungry."

In the Summer League, Gaffney played in four games, starting twice with the Lakers. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game. He impressed the team with his hustle and hard-work ethic.

Gaffney had a breakout 2008-09 senior year at UMass as he was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player Of The Year. He was also named to the league's Second Team and All-Defensive Team. Gaffney was also named to College Insider.com's Defensive All-American team.

He ranked third in the NCAA in blocks (3.8) and 17th in rebounds (10.2). Led A-10 in blocks, second in rebounds, second in steals. Gaffney averaged a double-double 11.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in 33.9 minutes per game. 3.8 blocks and 2.03 steals per game. He became, the fifth player in NCAA since 1996-97 with 100 blocks and 50 steals in a season (115 and 61). Last: Duke's Shelden Williams in 2005-06.

He was named by ESPN's Fran Fraschilla as the 5th-best rebounder in the nation through the first half of the 2008-09 season. He became the sixth player with 100 blocks in a season in UMass history. Stands third in single-season with 115. Gafney became the first UMass player to averaged 10 rebounds per game since Mark Haymore (10.0) in 1978-79, highest average since Jim Town in 1976-77. He is also the first player since ark Haymore to averaged a double-double since Haymore (17.1 ppg and 10.0 rpg) in 1978-79.

His steals total of 61 ranked as fifth-most in a single-season. 307 rebounds ranked as ninth-most in a season in history. He had 12 double-doubles this season after none in his career (first 81 games) entering season. 20 games with 10 or more rebounds. He finished seventh in UMass career blocked shots with 174.