I think that there are two factors that inhibit us going after blue chip caliber recruits.
The first started back in 1991, when we got nailed the first time by the NCAA with sanctions. After that, we implemented a compliance team within the AD, and started following the rules a little more closely. That's why you saw us drop out of the running at the 11th hour for many top rated recruits over the years, most notably Stephon Marbury [who's family made an overt demand for cash], and Anthony Davis [who's father was alleged to have done the same].
Second, JB is old. He just doesn't have the motivation to grind anymore out on the recruiting trail. Most younger coaches recognize that recruiting never sleeps, but JB doesn't operate that way anymore. He prefers to delegate and operate as the closer. That might have worked to a degree when you have an energetic, relentless guy like Mike Hopkins doing the leg work -- but it doesn't seem to work given the composition of the current staff.
Both of these things take us out of the sweepstakes for the elite of the elite. We still land good players -- and often, guys who far outshoot their ratings -- but it is hard to use that methodology and legitimately compete with programs who pull out all the stops for those types of players, and are on them 24/7.
