Huskers get shooting guard recruit

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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star

Don’t be fooled by the fact Weber State is the only other Division I school that’s offered Rayes Gallegos a scholarship.

Brad Blanchfield says Gallegos, who orally committed to the Nebraska men’s basketball team Sunday night, is a steal.

“I think he’s going to be under the radar,” said Blanchfield, who coaches Gallegos on the Utah Pump-and-Run White AAU team.

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Gallegos, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound shooting guard from West Jordan, Utah, becomes the third member of coach Doc Sadler’s 2009-10 recruiting class, joining forwards Brandon Ubel and Vander Joaquim.

Gallegos, born and raised near Salt Lake City, will take his first visit to Lincoln on Sept. 27.

Why Nebraska?

“It’s the Big 12,” Gallegos said. “It’s like the tops you can get in basketball. I think I can play with those guys, and I just thought it was the best thing for me to go there.”

Nebraska coaches first discovered Gallegos in July at the Super 64 Tournament, an adidas-sponsored event in Las Vegas. Blanchfield said Gallegos scored 41 and 35 points in games Sadler or assistant coach Phil Mathews saw.

“Just tore ‘em up,” Blanchfield said. “That really drew attention, and from there, he had games where he wasn’t as consistent, but in the big games, he stepped up and did what he needed to do.”

Nebraska kept in touch with Gallegos and saw him play again at a tournament in California. When Gallegos returned home, he had a scholarship offer. Colorado State, Utah State and San Diego were also showing interest.

What stands out the most about Gallegos, Blanchfield said, is his athleticism.

“The kid, he can jump out of the gym,” Blanchfield said. “We can run any fast break and finish with a dunk over just about anybody. If the ball’s up there around the rim, he can go get it. I’ve seen him come within a couple of inches of the top of the backboard.

“When you’ve got a guard that’s 6-2 who can finish over 6-10 guys with dunks, that’s pretty impressive.”

Blanchfield said Gallegos has developed a good three-point touch and can attack from anywhere.

“He’s got great penetration, he’d developed a mid-range jump shot and he can finish at the rim,” he said. “He’s really hard to defend, because if you take one thing away, he’s got the ability to go to another. And he’s really worked on his ability to see the floor and other players.”

Gallegos will be a senior at West Jordan High School, where he made the varsity team as a freshman.

“I don’t know his box score reflects that,” Blanchfield said. “I think that’s why he wasn’t on the scouting horizon as much. He’s just really come on and put himself in a position to be attractive.

“He’ll have to prove himself in the Big 12, but I’ve seen him take on bigger hurdles and do just fine.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.