I call BS on this. I'm familiar with the "big time players" committed to USC and they were recruited by USC based on TB, not from reports of HS games. Who are the other "big time players" and colleges? Which CA college coaches are scouting HS games for SoCar colleges? College coaches do network and help each other out - especially the ones with limited recruiting budgets - but that is more often with non-CA coaches they know that are at TB events.The other things folks fail to realize is how close the coaching community is. Though usually the coaches coming to our games are an hour away, what they say to their fellow coaches a continent away is what gets them the spot. How else does our little state get big time players from CA. Because of that local college coach in CA, at high school games, looking for that kid the big time colleges in the area has overlooked. And reporting it to their buddy east of the Mississippi.
The biggest local resource for remote college coaches is local TB coaches they trust for info on other TB teams' players. The TB coaches that are very successful at helping players get recruited have networks of college contacts and frequently help players on other teams.