FORD ON FORBES: "I love Gary's approach to the game, his mental approach to the game. He is very tough mentally, physically he has got great skills. He is a tremendous shooter and Gary's another player that can play the point guard position or the two guard position. He is somebody that I think physically could help our team this year. Gary gained such valuable experience this summer playing in the FIBA Championships for Panama. He was playing againt NBA players and pros from around the world which will really help him. He can score in a variety of ways from the perimeter or inside. He can be a power player, but also has a great touch from outside. He has played at the highest level in the ACC and I think he showed he was ready for the competition in our conference. He will help us leadership-wise -- as he is now a team captain. He could be one of the best players in the league. He is somebody who can really shoot the basketball, he's got great form. He's a player with good size and he's very strong and understands how to use his body. He's a very good one-on-one basketball player. Gary is another young man who has a great personality which leads to him being a leader on this basketball team. "

AS A REDSHIRT SENIOR 2007-08:
• 2008 ATLANTIC 10 PLAYER OF YEAR. 2008 ATLANTIC 10 FIRST TEAM. UMass had back-to-back POWs with Stephane Lasme in 2007.
• ATLANTIC 10 REGULAR-SEASON CO-SCORING CHAMPION with 610 points (20.3 ppg) along with Temple's Dionte Christmas.
• Played for Panama National Team in the FIBA Americas Championship summer 2007 against pros from around the world.
• Invited to Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, showcase of college seniors in early April.
• Named to NIT All-Tournament Team in New York averaging 14.8 points in five NIT games, 17.5 in NIT Final Four.
• Scored 1,000th career point at Northern Iowa (11/11). Scored 1,000th UMass point vs. La Salle (3/5). Has 1,128 all-time to stand 28TH ALL-TIME at UMass. Has 1,639 in his career including 511 points at Virginia prior to coming to UMass.
• Joined Julius Erving as the only two players to score 1,000 points in their only two seasons at UMass. Erving had 1,370 in 1969-71.
• With 698 points on the year, had second-best single-season in UMass history. No. 1 is Erving (727).
• 175 made free throws is second-most in a season all-time. No. 1 is Lou Roe (210 in 1993-94). His 243 FTAs are second all-time.
• Set UMass senior class records for points (698), field goals (233), free throws made (175), minutes played (1214).
• Finished third in single-season minutes played (1214), sixth in single-season field goals (233) and 10th in 3-pointers attempted (195).
• CollegeHoops.net National Player of the Week and named to FoxSports.com Frank Burlison's Top 5 Player of the Week on 12/18/07.
• Named A-10 Player of Week on Dec. 16 after 2-0 week with 23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and made 18-of-19 free throws.
• Named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 18 after three games in which he averaged 24.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.0 apg.
• Named to BTI Tip-Off All-Tournament Team at Northern Iowa. Averaged 23.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in three games.
• Second in Atlantic 10 in scoring and 43rd in NCAA with 19.4 average.
• Fifth in Atlantic 10 in rebounding with 7.5 rebounds, third in A-10 in defensive rebounds (5.88).
• Led UMass in scoring with 19.4 points per game. Team's top rebounder with 7.5 per game and second in assists with 109 (3.0 per game).
• Shot improved 72.0 percent from the foul line to rank second on the team. Made all seven free throws against S.F. Austin in NIT.
• Scored more than 20 points in 18 of 36 games this year. Netted 25-plus points six times, last vs. La Salle with 26.
• Double-figures in first 33 games in 2007. Had at least 11 points in first 33 games. Nine double-doubles in 2007-08, last vs. La Salle.
• Had streak of 37 games in a row in double-figures snapped at Syracuse (3/25) in NIT Quarterfinal, finishing with nine points.
• Tallied 16 points in final college game, at Madison Square Garden, vs. Ohio State (4/3) in NIT Championship. Had five rebounds and five asissts.
• Led UMass with 19 points in NIT Semifinal win over Florida (4/1) at Madison Square Garden.
• Scored season-lowe nine at Syracuse (3/25) in NIT Quarterfinal. 11 points vs. Akron (3/22) in NIT Second Round with team-high nine rebounds.
• Tallied 19 points as he made all seven free throws to lead UMass to NIT First Round win over Stephen F. Austin (3/18).
• Tied with Etienne Brower for team lead in scoring (14) and rebounding (8) vs. Charlotte (3/13) in A-10 Quarterfinal loss.
• Made four 3-pointers in the first half as UMass won season finale at George Washington (3/8). Finished with 20 points to share team lead.
• Became 39th player to score 1,000 points at UMass with 26 vs. La Salle (3/5). Had 11 rebounds and four 3-pointers on Senior Day.
• In first college game in Virginia, vs. Richmond (3/1), since transferring from UVa, had 17 points, making all seven free throws attempts.
• Season-high 16 rebounds, with 18 points against St. Bonaventure (2/24) for eighth double-double of year and third in five games.
• Tallied 23 points including 11-of-12 from foul line in big win at Rhode Island (2/21).
• Netted 17 points along with five assists and three rebounds in win over Saint Louis (2/17).
• Seventh double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds against Fordham (2/14). Also had four assists and two steals.
• Sixth double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds at Temple (2/10). Added season-best seven assists.
• Played what Coach Travis Ford called his "hardest working game" with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Set career highs with 11 field goals made on 30 attempts. 30 attempts ties for third-most in UMass history with Clarence Hill in 1965.
• Led UMass for second game in a row with 20 points at Saint Louis (2/2).
• Fourth double-double of year and one of three UMass players with 20 points (23 points) and one of three with 10 reboundsat Duquesne (1/30).
• Netted 16 points against #23/22 Xavier (1/27). Grabbed five rebounds.
• Scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half at Saint Joseph's (1/23) as UMass nearly rallied back for win from 20 points down.
• Fouled out after scoring 15 points in win over Charlotte (1/19). Also had three assists and three rebounds.
• Despite shooting just 4-of-16, scored 16 points (13 in second half), had seven rebounds and four assists at #14/18 Dayton (1/16)
• Scored 22 points for second game in a row vs. Saint Joseph's (1/9), tied career-high with five made 3-pointers, making first five.
• Netted 22 points as part of three players with 20 or more points for first time since 1999 at #15/15 Vanderbilt (1/5).
• 12 of 19 points in second half to lead rally from 11 down at half to beat Houston (1/2). Named CSTV Sirius Player of Game.
• Registered third double-double of the year -- by halfime (15 points, 10 reb.) -- finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds vs. Boston Universty (12/29). Had 11 defensive rebounds and four assists in the win.
• Tallied 25 points including 11-of-12 from foul line in win over Toledo (12/15), also had six rebounds.
• Netted 22 points including 17 in the second half as UMass won at Boston College (12/12) for first time since 1999. Added seven rebounds.
• Fifth career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds vs. Marist (12/8) along with five assists.
• In 100th college game, scored 12 points, grabbed team-best seven rebounds at IUPUI (12/1) after falling hard injuring his back.
• Played what Coach Travis Ford called his best all -around game at UMass in win at Syracuse (11/28) as he had 23 points, seven assists, six rebounds. Hit UMass' first 4-point play in two years in the first-half.
• Starting at point guard for injured Chris Lowe had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists vs.Green Bay (11/17). Teammed with Etienne Brower (25 points) for UMass' first duo with 25 or more in 10 years (Travieso (27)/Bright (26) at Pitt (1/23/96). Game was extra special to Forbes as he played his first college game in front of his father.
• Tallied 29 points including 21 in the second half as UMass rallied from 20 points down to three points at Northern Iowa (11/11).
• Led with 22 points vs. Northern Illinois (11/10). Opened with a double-double vs. Cal Poly (11/9) with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

SUMMER OF 2007: Played for Panamanian National Team in the FIBA Americas Championship held in Las Vegas ... Averaged 17.8 points per game in four contest for Panama, which went 1-3 ... Averaged 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists, shooting 55.6 from the floor ... Scored a game-high 29 points against Argentina (8/26) as he made 6-of-14 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the foul line ... In win over Mexico (8/24), scored nine points ... Netted team-high 19 points against Puerto Rico (8/23), also grabbed seven boards ... In opening game of tournament, tallied 14 points and had three rebounds in overtime loss to Uruguay (8/22) ... Prior to Championships, worked out with the team in Colon, Panama for eight-day training camp ... Also worked Nike and Adidas camps.

AS A REDSHIRT JUNIOR IN 2006-07: Honored by numerous publications as the Atlantic 10's Newcomer of the Year or Transfer of the Year ... Named to Preseson Atlantic 10 Second Team (Lindy's Sporting News and CBS SportsLine) ... Versatile player who started at small forward, played shooting guard and spent some time at point guard ... Only player in NCAA during season to outrebound an opponent single-handedly with 16 vs. Richmond on Feb. 3 ... Led or tied for lead in scoring nine times while leading in assists seven times and rebounding five times ... Ranked in top three on team in every statistic total: scoring (third), rebounding (third), assists (third), steals (third), blocks (tied second), 3-pointers (second), field goals (third) ... Overall, third on the team with 13.0 points per game. Also third on team at 5.8 rebounds per game and third in 2.5 assists per game ... Third on club in steals with 32 and tied for second in blocks with 16 ... Led UMass in scoring in conference games until La Salle game (2/28). Finished second with a 14.8 points per game average ... Scored in double-figures in 26-of-33 games this season (50 in his career). That includes nine of the first 10 games during the year ... Scored 10 or more points in 17 of last 20 games with 15.5 average of those games from Jan. 2-March 15 ... Netted 15 points along with four rebounds and three assists in NIT Second Round at West Virginia (3/15) ... Tallied 11 points including a clutch layup-plus free throw with 1:15 in overtime to beat Alabama (3/13) in NIT First Round ... Topped team in scoring with 13 points in A-10 Tournament vs. Saint Louis (3/8) along with seven rebounds ... Led UMass with team-high 13 points in A-10 regular-season title clinching win at Saint Joseph's (3/3) ... Over seven games (Feb. 2-24), averaged 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game including career-high 31 points at Temple ... Has vastly improved free-throw shooting, making 65 of last 93 attempts (70 percent) over last 19 games after starting year at 54 percent (29 of first 54) in first 13 games ... Team-high 13 points and had career-best four steals including game-saving one with one second left to seal win over Saint Louis (2/24) ... Grabbed game-high 10 rebounds vs. St. Bonaventure (2/21), but scored just five points on rough shooting night ... Honored as UMass/Dinn Brothers Co-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 21, 2007) after averaging 17 points in two wins ... Led UMass in scoring with 23 including 8-of-16 from floor and 4-of-7 from 3-pointers at Dayton (2/18), along with five rebounds ... Mired in first-half foul trouble, scored 11 of his points at Fordham (2/15) in his return to New York City ... Became first UMass player in three years to score 30 points as he tallied a career-high 31 points at Temple (2/11). Had career-highs with 10 field goals made and 23 field goals attempted. Equaled best day at the foul line going 8-of-8 for the second time ... Scored 22 points vs. Rhode Island (2/8) as he made a then-career-high nine field goals made, also grabbed nine boards ... Personally outrebounded entire Richmond team, 16-to-13, as he posted second career double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Only player in NCAA during the season to date to outrebound an opponent single-handedly. That included career-best 15 defensive rebounds, career-high tying 10 free throws and career-best 15 free throw attempts ... In first start since Dec. 22 at Kentucky, scored 13 points on 5-of-7 from the floor and added four rebounds at Charlotte (1/28) ... Double-figures in six games in a row (Jan. 2-21) -- all off the bench -- with a 16.5 average in those six games ... Over three games from Jan. 18-24, averaged 8.0 rebounds ... Tallied second-most points at UMass with 19 at Xavier (1/18), also grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists ... Shot a career-best 5-of-7 from the 3-point line and tallied 18 points in season-high 35 minutes vs. Temple (1/13) ... Netted 16 points including career-best 10-of-12 from the free-throw line (83.3 pct.) vs. George Washington (1/10) ... Tallied double-figures for the second game in a row with 12 at La Salle (1/6), added four rebounds, two assists, two steals ... Well-rounded game off the bench vs. Miami (1/2) with team-best tying 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks ... Came off the bench for the second time vs. Yale (12/28) and played just 12 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing five boards ... Had seven points and tied for team high with seven rebounds at Kentucky (12/22) ... Despite scoring just five points, grabbed season-best nine rebounds and handed out five assists at Louisville (12/13) ... Posted a career-high eight assists vs. Central Connecticut State (12/9) ... Despite a tough shooting night, scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds at Savannah State (11/28) ... Season-best 20 points at Jacksonville State (11/25) ... Tallied 11 points and tied career-high four blocks vs. St. Francis, N.Y. (11/22) ... 13 points, three rebounds and three assists vs. Northeastern (11/19) ... Tallied 12 points at No. 4/5 Pittsburgh (11/18) ... Scored 15 points to tie for team lead against Oakland (11/17) along with five rebounds and four assists ... Made UMass debut with 17 points and six rebounds vs. Dartmouth (11/11), first points came on a put-back dunk.

AS A JUNIOR IN 2005-06: Sat out as a redshirt due to NCAA transfer rules after coming to UMass from the University of Virginia ... Practiced with the Minutemen ... Retains two years of eligibility at UMass.

AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2004-05 (AT VIRGINIA): Played in all 29 games and started four ... Averaged 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 22.4 minutes played a game ... Played off the bench in 25 games and averaged 21.7 minutes played a game in those games ... Scored a career-high 23 points and had six rebounds in the loss at North Carolina (2/16) ... Was 8-11 from the field in that game, including 3-5 from three-point range ... Started for the second time during the 2004-05 season in the loss at Duke (1/16) and had the first double-double of his collegiate career with 17 points and 10 rebounds ... scored 17 points and had six rebounds in 31 minutes in a loss at Florida State (3/6) ... Established career highs with four three-point baskets and eight three-point attempts in that game ... Started his first game of the season in the overtime victory over Loyola Marymount (12/23)

AS A FRESHMAN IN 2003-04 (AT VIRGINIA): Averaged 7.6 points per game, played in all 31 games and started 17 games during the 2003-04 season ... ranked third among freshmen in the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding (123, 4.0 rpg), third in blocked shots (28, 0.9 bpg), fifth in steals (30, 0.97 spg), seventh in assists (46, 1.48 apg) and seventh in scoring (237, 7.6 ppg) for the 2003-04 season ... finished second on the team in blocked shots (28) and steals (30) ... scored a team-high 19 points in the season-ending 73-63 loss at Villanova (3/20) in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament ... scored a season-high 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and two steals in win over Minnesota (12/3) in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

BEFORE COLLEGE: Scored 1,512 points and grabbed 766 rebounds during his high school career ... Established career records for points, rebounds and blocked shots at Benjamin Banneker ... selected the Newsday Player of the Year in Brooklyn as a senior and was nominated for City Player of the Year ... earned first-team All-City and All-Tri-State honors ... McDonald's All-American finalist ... Averaged 31 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots a game as a senior ... Scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Benjamin Banneker's 75-69 loss to Lincoln High School in the Public School Athletic League "A" Championship game at Madison Square Garden his senior season ... Averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists a game as a junior.

PERSONAL: Gary Orlando Forbes ... Born February 25, 1985 in Panama ... son of Ana Maria and Roberto Forbes ... Brother of Anthony, Derek, Eño, Roberto Jr. and Kadeem ... Majoring in Communications.

Forbes' CAREER STATS
Year		GP	GS	Min	Avg	FG	FGA	Pct	3FG	FGA	Pct	FT	FTA	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Avg	PF	FO	Ast	TO	Blk	Stl	Pts	Avg

2003-04  Virginia	31	17	724	23.4	93	216	.431	16	58	.276	35	69	.507	41	82	123	4.0	66	2	46	59	28	30	237	7.6

2004-05  Virginia	29	4	651	22.4	108	232	.466	20	67	.299	38	65	.585	41	77	118	4.1	79	4	25	51	19	18	274	9.4

2006-07 at UMASS	33	23	939	28.5	151	354	.427	32	98	.327	96	150	.640	51	142	193	5.8	65	1	81	79	16	31	430	13.0

2007-08 at UMASS	36	36	1214	33.7	233	572	.407	57	195	.292	175	243	.720	65	205	270	7.5	87	1	109	113	25	41	698	19.4

TOTAL at UMASS	69	59	2153	31.2	384	926	.415	89	293	.304	271	393	.690	116	347	463	6.7	152	2	190	192	41	72	1128	16.3

TOTAL 129	80	3528	27.3	585	1374	.426	125	418	.299	344	527	.653	198	506	709	5.5	297	8	261	302	88	120	1639	12.7

Forbes' Career Highs
Category	#	Opponent, Date
Points	31	at Temple, 2/11/07
Field Goals	11	Rhode Island, 2/7/08
Field Goal Att.	30	Rhode Island, 2/7/08 T-3rd UM Hist.
3-Point FG	5	Temple, 1/13/07
	5	Saint Joseph's, 1/9/08
3-Point FG Att.	10	St. Bonaventure, 2/24/08
Free Throws	12	at Northern Iowa, 11/11/07
Free Throw Att. 	15	Richmond, 2/3/07
Free Throw P.	  100 (8-8) Duquesne, 1/21/07
	100 	(8-8) at Temple, 2/11/07
Rebounds	16	Richmond, 2/3/07
Def. Reb.	15	Richmond, 2/3/07
Assists	8	vs. Central Connecticut, 12/9/06
Blocks	4 	Maryland, 2/19/05
	4	St. Francis, 11/22/06
Steals	4	Saint Louis, 2/24/07
Minutes	39	at Temple, 2/10/08


Forbes' Miscellaneous Stats
Category	07-08	Car.	Last Time...
Double-Figure Scoring	35	85	vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
30-plus points	0	1	at Temple, 2/11/07
25-plus points	6	7	La Salle, 3/5/08
20-plus points	18	27	at G. Wash., 3/8/08
10-plus rebounds	9	14	La Salle, 3/5/08
Double-Double	9	12	La Salle, 3/5/08

Career Honors
ATLANTIC 10 PLAYER OF YEAR 2008
ATLANTIC 10 FIRST TEAM 2008
CollegeHoops.net Nat'l Player of Week (Dec. 18, 2007)
FoxSports.com Burlison Top 5 Players (Dec. 18, 2007)
Atlantic 10 Player of the Week (Dec. 16, 2007)
Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week (Nov. 18, 2007)
BTI Tip-Off Tournament All-Tournament Team 2007
2007-08 Atlantic 10 Preseason Third Team
UMass/Dinn Brothers Co-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 21, 2007)
2006-07 Atlantic 10 Preseason Second Team (Lindy's, Sporting News, CBS Sportsline)
2006-07 A-10 Newcomer Of The Year (Lindy's Sporting News)
2006-07 A-10 Transfer Of The Year (Athlon, Dick Vitale)

A FEW MINUTES WITH G-FORBZ
Favorite Musical Artist: Jay-Z
Best Sporting Event I Ever Attended: FIBA Championships, playing for Panama
Favorite TV Show: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Favorite Web Site: ESPN.com
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Lenny Elmore
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Golden State Warriors
Pro Sports Team I Would Like To Play For: Lakers
Favorite Athletes: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
Childhood Idol: My brother- Anthony Fields
Magazine Cover I'd Like to Be On: Forbes
Team I'd Like To See Added To The Schedule: Virginia
Best Player I Ever Faced: J.J. Redick
Best Player I Ever Played With: Cheese a.k.a. Andrew Walker
Toughest Place I Ever Played: Cameron Indoor
Most People Don't Know This But: I have diabetes
My Biggest Fear: God and the open sea
My First Memory of Basketball: Losing to my brother when I was two years old
Most Famous Person I Ever Met: Kobe Bryant
My Most Prized Possession: My family
Place I'd Like to Visit: Fiji
Best Moment at UMass: Transferring
My Most Memorable Moment in College Athletics: Playing at UNC
If I Didn't Play College Basketball I Would Play: Football
Who Had the Greatest Impact on My Life: My family
Pre-game Rituals: Ice-tub/hot tub
Best Advice From a Coach: Shut up and play
My Best Non-Athletic Talent: Writing
If I Had $1 Billion Dollars I Would: Buy a Country