Game film is and always will be the most effective way to get seen. The eye in the sky don't lie. College coaches visiting the school also has a huge impact in recruiting. Top programs have university after university visiting and getting to know the coaches and players. Hard to find out about a kid's grades, practice habits, classroom behavior, weight room habits, home life, etc.... at a camp with 300 or more kids. I can't count how many times I've been at practice when a college coach asked about a kid that he hasn't heard of yet but may have seen listed on the prospect list that the HC game him before practice. Happens all the time.