BU's approach:
1) My system works. I will offer all the best players/athletes available that fit the style of play.
Talent fits many, many systems. Players/athletes that "fit the style of play" is not descriptive at all, you can make a case for any recruit that he "fits our style of play." Especially when you recruit players like Parker Braun who is undersized but relatively quick (and fans make a case, before his decision, of how well he "fits our system") and then go out and recruit Adonis De La Rosa who is big but 300 pounds. Makes you wonder, who exactly does not fit our system? Certainly a very small group of players in a universe somewhere.
I will recruit guys that know what kind of system they are agreeing to and can be developed to win.
And then... they may all transfer next year.
It doesn't matter if we get classes of five 3 star players, five 4 star players, or a mix of 3, 4, and 5 star players if they have the attributes my system needs (e.g. shooter = Alan Griffin, speedy defense breaker = Trent, length at almost all positions for defense, etc.).
Trent was not recruited by BU, neither was Black, or Kipper. And Dee, Deron, Luther, Augie, and Roger were not recruited by Weber. A clear indication that good, talented players fit may systems.
2) The top recruits know they are being prioritized.
Top recruits really do not care about plan B, C, D, E, or F recruits anyway.
3) We don't have to beg anyone to come to Illinois. Similar to 1, just offer all the best players available.
And then have no OV left... "all the best players available" is a HUGE group, vague, and not descriptive at all.
4) Do try to hire good recruiters to reel in 4 and 5 star talent, etc. Talent will show just how good the system is.
So we come back full circle, the ability to reel in 4 and 5 star players, and really "talent", who fits again many, many systems.