Some team sports use a star rating system to attempt to determine how good an athlete is and how much potential they are going to have at the next level. These stars are determined by scouts at various scouting services. Those scouts will try to gauge each athletes' talent level and if they would be successful at the next level.

The more stars, the better, right? Sometimes, but not all the time. Broadcasters and journalists alike are always discussing how many “stars” a recruit is valued at. Usually, it's about a five star recruit making their decision on what school they are going to play for. But what is the star rating system, and how does it work?

Five Star Recruits

Five star recruits are usually by far and away the best athletes in their class. They are able to dominate at their sport. These athletes are usually predicted to become some of the best athletes in their sports at the college level.

Four Star Recruits

Four star recruits are also predicted to be very successful in college, but they are just not at quite the same level as five star recruits. These athletes are likely still the best athletes on their team and even in their league. However, they have just a bit more developing to do before being deemed a five star recruit.

Three Star Recruits

Three star recruits are athletes who can still dominate at their sport, but they may need to significantly develop in multiple aspects of the game. These athletes will likely struggle against four and five star recruits in their sport. Still, they are good enough to be scouted by colleges and be given the opportunity to play at the college level.

Related: DIY College Sports Recruiting Guide for High School Athletes, Parents & Coaches

Two and One Star Recruits

Two and one star recruits are towards the lower end of the talent spectrum compared to higher star recruits. These athletes can really have a hard time competing against the higher star athletes. With that said, these athletes have the potential to show off their work ethic and compete to try to earn a spot on a college roster.

Because an athlete's rating is up to scouts, it may be challenging for an athlete to determine what level they are playing at. One way to figure this out is to compare stats with the stats of those players who are playing at the college level. When an athlete finds a college athlete with comparable high school stats, they can look at what star rating that athlete received in high school to get an idea of what their own rating might be.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

It is always important to keep in mind that just because someone has a certain star rating does not mean that they are guaranteed to be successful. Ratings are entirely subjective and at the discretion of the scouts in charge of assigning those ratings. It is just as common for a five star recruit to under perform as it is for a two star recruit to become one of the best in their sport. That being said, securing a higher star rating will likely lead to more scholarship offers and playing opportunities when heading off to college.

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* Originally published on June 5, 2023, by Owen Roche