Gurley switching to UMass

Former Newton North basketball standout Anthony Gurley has transferred from Wake Forest after one season and, according to a family source, has decided to attend the University of Massachusetts, where he would be able to play in the 2008-09 season.

Gurley, a two-time Globe Super Team member, played in all 31 games for the Demon Deacons last season as a freshman shooting guard under coach Skip Prosser, who died in July of a heart attack. He played an average of 14.5 minutes a game while averaging 6.4 points. He was the team's leading scorer four times last season and had a season-high 24 against Georgia Tech Feb. 21. He had one start, Jan. 13 against North Carolina State.

"I am very saddened to not attend Wake Forest," said Gurley in a statement released by the school. "I am dealing with a personal situation and it is in my best interests to leave the University at this time. I have loved being a part of the Deacon basketball team and I wish to thank my teammates and coaches for allowing me to be a part of something very special. This is clearly the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life."

Said Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio, "We wish Anthony nothing but the best as he deals with this difficult period in his life. I told Anthony that if we can ever do anything to help him, we will be there for him. We wish him the best in all of his future endeavors."

Under NCAA regulations, Gurley must sit out a season before he can play, but he has three years of eligibility remaining. Officials at UMass said there would be no announcement yesterday.

UMass coach Travis Ford, entering his third season at Amherst, already has landed three transfers, Luke (brother of Matt) Bonner from West Virginia and Etienne Brower from Boston University, each of whom sat out the 2005-06 season. Tony Gaffney, also from BU, sat out last year and is eligible to play this season.

Yesterday, UMass also announced that power forward Tyrell Lynch has joined the team as a walk-on. Lynch, who is from Niagara Falls, N.Y., originally signed a letter-of-intent to play for Auburn but never enrolled. The 6-foot-9-inch, 230-pounder spent last season at the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina.

PETER MAY