Recruiting tactics, is honesty the best way to do it?

This question goes out to all those behind the keyboard who have been recruited for a sport or those parents who have had kids that were highly recruited. This question can be for past LSU recruits, players or anyone who has attended a university on a athletic scholarship.

How was your recruiting process? Was upfront honesty more appealing? With the new signing period and changing landscape of recruiting, how do you think Coach O is doing it?

My Story:

I was a baseball player in the late 80's that played HS ball. I had some BB skills but was young and didn't know what I didn't know. I ended up playing JUCO ball on a full scholarship. That recruiting process consisted of a tryout camp and then a scholarship offer. Once I was into my sophomore year, I began to get a lot more interest from 4 year universities. This is where the honesty part comes in. I was recruited by North Alabama, a D1 school who, at the time, had a pretty good Baseball program and coach. On my recruiting visit, he brought me into a room and showed me his recruiting board. He explained to me their interest in me but that their interest came after about 4 other Outfielders told them "NO". This coach was somewhat arrogant but I appreciated his honesty. This school wasn't my first choice and I obviously wasn't theirs at that time. He explained that they wanted to get someone down to watch me more closely. About two weeks later, one of their assistants came down and it was a game where I went 4 for 4, stole 3 bases and had one of my better times running to 1st. My biggest asset was my speed. Later that night, I got a call from the coach and he offered me a scholarship that night. I can only guess that I may have moved up on their board after seeing me play in person.

I ended up turning down his offer and decided to attend a NAIA school with a better education opportunity. That coach, when he recruited me, never let me know where I was on their list. He basically just offered me a scholarship. He even drove from central Alabama down to Louisiana, one weekend, to meet my parents and try to convince me to attend his university.

I am not sure how coach O does it but to have an opportunity to play at LSU would have been a dream come true for me back in the day. I believe, with the new signing period, I would have this list of recruits, be up front and honest with where they are on your board. Some recruits might be turned off by thinking that they are not seen as the best option for LSU and some might see it as a motivation. I would explain how many players we plan to take at said position, then based on how they are graded, offer the scholarships. There may be some recruits worth waiting on but the margin for error can't be that great. For example, we got Phillips and Jamal Adams after losing our first priorities. On the flip side, we lost out on Etienne by waiting for Akers.

What says the RB? Take the ones on your list if they want in early, no matter where they fall on the priority list?