Few players. Sorry, i should have clarified that i was talking coaches. On that note there are a few coaches that have done very well by focusing a great deal of time on the high school scene. They may not see high level talent on high level talent but they will get to know parents, teachers and friends. Thorson will be great at that.
Built, I am 100% with you on this.
HS basketball and AAU basketball are very different situations. Both have their merits. It's a lot easier to see players in person by going to a big AAU showcase where you can see a lot of players at the same time and place. HS recruiting is a lot more time- and travel-consuming.
But, if I was a college coach, I would want to see kids in both settings to compare the differences. AAU is great for showcasing individual skills and talent, but HS ball shows how a kid does operating in a more controlled team structure, which can be very instructive if you want to find out how a kid responds to coaching. yeah, a kid may not "pop" at the HS level they way they might in AAU, but at the same time, AAU may not give you a sense of the 'complete' player.