Probably my first inkling that the recruitment of high school athletes was A Thing was when as an 18-year old senior, I got a pro forma letter from some tiny college I had never heard of and couldn't name now asking me to think about checking out their water polo program.
I still do not know how or why the school got my name or sought me out, and I can only assume that it was a case of extreme mistaken identity. Yes, I had been a (below average at best) competitive swimmer for years and yes I could pretty much tread water indefinitely and yes I'm six foot two with ungainly arms and legs, but.