<p>matt,</p>
<p>I am sure sports recruits are treated differently depending not only on their particular sport, but also how much the team can use their particular talent, even their position.</p>
<p>My nephew just graduated from an ivy where he played a "high profile" sport. One of the reasons kids "commit" early even to ivies (where technically money is not a consideration ;) ) is the coach is trying to fill their particular position. For example if the coach needs a center for the basketball team, it behooves the player and especially the coach to snare the recruit as soon as possible. At that point (and if the coach convinces admissions the player should be accepted academically, and yes he needs a certain academic index to even qualify for the ivy league) the coach may end his search in next year's class for another center.</p>
<p>From my nephew's experience this is very true for the ivies and selective schools. You will be put on a pedestal, then dropped faster than a hot potato once your position is filled. So there is pressure on the kid to commit, before someone else commits who plays the same position. The kids go through the normal admissions procedure, they get their "acceptance" (though I believe it isn't absolutely official) early so the coach will know he has that recruit. N was "accepted" to his school in February, in other words some kind of agreement between N and ivy was made, but it isn't totally official (actually I'm not sure when the deal is officially complete given they don't sign a letter of intent at an ivy) till the acceptance in April.</p>