LINCOLN — Forget about a redshirt season for Nebraska basketball freshman Ray Gallegos.

“One of the reasons I wanted to come here,’’ he said, “was to make an impact from the get-go.’’

Through early season conditioning work with coaches and free-play games with teammates, the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder from suburban Salt Lake City has turned heads with his quickness and competitiveness.

“His athleticism and his work ethic really stand out,’’ NU coach Doc Sadler said. “That’s all you can go on at this point with the limited time you can see them. But I’ve been very pleased with his work habits.’’

Gallegos might be more comfortable as an off-guard, Sadler said, but likely will play more at point guard.

“He’ll play some as a freshman,’’ the coach said. “He would probably be a three- or four-year starter if he did redshirt. But kids don’t want to do that.’’

Gallegos zoomed up the recruiting charts during AAU play in the summer of 2008, when he averaged 25 points a game for Utah Pump-N-Run White.

Nebraska signed him last November, and Sadler is glad he did because Gallegos led his high school team last season to the large class Utah state championship and was MVP of the state tourney team.

“Ray had a heck of a senior year after having that unbelievable summer,’’ Sadler said. “It would have been much more difficult to get him if we hadn’t signed him early.’’

During the early stages of recruiting, Gallegos looked at George Mason, Utah State and Weber State. But after his strong summer of 2008, UCLA and other higher-profile West Coast schools began checking on him.

Gallegos said he thought about delaying his signing until last spring.

“But the other big-name schools weren’t as serious as Nebraska,’’ he said. “So I signed early. And it got all the pressure off me for my senior year.

“It was good because I didn’t feel like I had to impress anybody or try to do too much.’’

By now, it’s apparent that Gallegos isn’t afraid of strong decision-making.

Perhaps that’s a byproduct of the biggest decision in his life so far — to move out of his own house as a high school freshman and into the home of AAU coach Brad Blanchfield, who became his legal guardian.

“It was hard to leave,’’ Gallegos said. “My mom cried. But it was best for me. Everybody knew if I stayed at home that I wouldn’t have a chance to be where I am today.’’

Gallegos continues to have a strong relationship with his mother and three older sisters.

“Ray has a wonderful family who is loving and caring,’’ Sadler said. “He didn’t move because his home life was bad.’’

But Gallegos said his own immaturity and the lack of a father figure at home had him going down an unproductive path.

“My mom wouldn’t care if I went to school,’’ he said. “My grades in junior high were like a 1.0 and 1.1. But after I moved in with Brad, I couldn’t even go outside until my homework was done. So I had to do it.’’

By his sophomore year, Gallegos had boosted his grade average to 3.8 on a 4.0 scale and kept it near 3.5 the rest of high school.

That work has put Gallegos in position to reach his goal.

“I wanted a chance to contribute right away in a great conference,’’ he said. “That’s exciting to me, and Nebraska has given me that chance.’’

Ÿ NOTES: The updated measurements for transfer point guard Lance Jeter already are out of date. The 6-foot-3 junior, who said he arrived at 240 pounds, was at 230 when weighed a month ago. This week, he was at 220 and still dropping. ... Sophomore wing Toney McCray, who suffered an elbow ligament injury two weeks ago, is participating in conditioning drills and said he is progressing well. ... Sophomore wing Myles Holley, who has had two major knee injuries in the past, has been slowed by leg soreness.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com