In ancient, and probably irrelevant-to-today, history, GONZAGA did the impossible using the following:
A. initially: low 4 stars sprinkled with high ceiling 3 stars, all with positive "character" traits. These traits were considered paramount. They included hard-work, low ego, team-oriented people who relished both being coached-up and the fact that opponents thought they weren't good enough. This, with coaching leadership, created "culture."
B. (The impossible one) ---- a great coaching staff, which (after Few took over from the original fellow who started it) maintained solid continuity and friendship working relationships. The Head Coach was not a tyrant.
C. A deep dive "Plan" for the development of each recruit. Recruits were intensively evaluated and in GONZAGA's pre-Fame years, each player was assessed as to where large changes/growth needed to come if that player were to have a chance to reach potential. This included liberal use of the redshirt year concept, and very specific point-by-point plans in a player's evolution. These specific player plans were ready for each player during his high school final year, and were brought to the players and their families as part of the recruitment process.
D. The above resulted in the first Sweet Sixteen of three in a row. This resulted in a much greater amount of funding available to optimize facilities (and a dramatic rise in university enrollment, which got admin full on board.)
E. Once three Sweet Sixteens in a row occurred, GONZAGA could then choose to go the transfer route, or the high school top ten route or whatever they wished --- but the staff continuity and the high team character fit with culture remain priorities.
