and developing players is important but what seems to get lost in the shuffle is player evaluation. I've never recruited a player in my life but there are 4 stars and then there are 4 stars. You're more likely to find better talent in 4 and 5 star players but that doesn't mean they fit your team.

I may be wrong but isn't it an important part of recruiting to go to high school games and actually watch them play? Don't the coaches talk to the recruits to see if they have the drive to excel? Don't they check to see if the player has anger issues or refuses to listen to coaches?
It seems to me you have to go after the 4 and 5 star recruits hard because all the top teams year in and year out are the top recruiting teams. But you have to evaluate them for the intangibles before you offer.

Or you try playing moneyball which only gets you so far.