One of the "great debates" I've seen on TKP is the question of how much value 4 & 5 stars bring to the table. I've decided to compile a list of every 4 & 5 from the Commonwealth since 2002 (according to Rivals) to shed a little light on the subject. For obvious reasons, I didn't include players that were prepping at Fork Union or Hargrave.
Committed to Virginia Tech
Committed to UVA
2002: Kai Parham, Ahmad Brooks, Marcus Vick, Michael Johnson, Anthony Martinez, R.J. Coleman, Justin London, Jonathan Lewis, Thomas Clayton, Marcus Hamilton, Stefan Orange, Keenan Carter, Levi Brown (Total: 13)
2003: Phillip Brown, Chris Ellis, Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi, Matt Welsh (Total: 5)
2004: Chris Long, Olu Hall, Sean Glennon, Jerod Mayo, Kent Hicks, Eddie Royal (Total: 6)
2005: Macho Harris, Deveon Simmons, Stephen Friday, Vic Hall, Pat Shell, Elan Lewis, Todd Nolen (Total: 7)
2006: Percy Harvin, Brandon Minor, Vidal Hazelton, Damon McDaniel, Jarrell Miller, Chris Bell, Dedrick Epps, Alex Stadler, Sean Gottschalk, Brent Vinson, John Graves (Total: 11)
2007: Tyrod Taylor, Peter Lalich, Jamar Jackson, Terence Fells-Danzer, J'Courtney Williams, Bradley Starks, Chris Hill, Blake DeChristopher, Andrew Nuss, Jay Smith (Total: 10)
2008: E.J. Manuel, Ryan Williams, Mike Glennon, Quinton Coples, Josh Jenkins, Vinson Painter, Marcus Dowtin, Deion Walker, Kerry Boykins, Bobby Massie, Dyrell Roberts, D.J. Coles (Total: 12)
2009: Logan Thomas, Dominique Wallace, Tajh Boyd, David Wilson, Kevin Newsome, Bryn Renner, Morgan Moses, Jerod Askew, De'Antwan Williams, Quintin Hunter, Damien Thigpen, Tim Smith, Logan Heastie (Total: 13)
2010: Quinton Spain, Phillip Sims, J.R. Ferguson, Zack McCray, Justin Hunter, Travis Williams, Nick Dew, Nick Acree, Aramide Olaniyan, Jamel Turner, Mark Shuman (Total: 11)
2011: Curtis Grant, Landon Turner, Demetrious Nicholson, Travis Hughes, Dominique Terrell, Clifton Richardson, Ronny Vandyke, Corey Marshall (Total: 8)
2012: J.C. Coleman, Alex Carter, Kwontie Moore, Eli Harold, Joel Caleb, Deon Clarke, Ken Ekanem, Trey Edmunds, Korren Kirven, Win Homer (Total: 10)
2013: Taquan Mizzel, Derrick Green, Christian Hackenberg, Jonathan Allen, Wyatt Teller, Ryan Burns, E.J. Levenberry Jr., Bucky Hodges, Holland Fisher, Doug Randolph, Tim Harris, Matt Rolin (Total: 12)
2014: Da'Shawn Hand, Quin Blanding, Andrew Brown, Derrick Nnadi, Alec Eberle, Jalyn Holmes, Caleb Henderson, Jamil Kamara, Steven Moss, Ricky Walker, Raymond Minor, C.J. Reavis, Marshawn Williams (Total: 13)
2015: Josh Sweat, Javoni Simmons, Clelin Ferrell, Ricky DeBerry, Garrett Taylor, Matthew Burrell Jr., Austin Clark, Tim Settle, Darvin Taylor II, Jaason Lewis (Total: 10)

Comments
I'd like to point out that in 2002 UVA got 7 4/5-stars and didn't do dick with them #historywillrepeatitself
Ahmad Brooks agrees.

Relieved I don't have to watch Cam Newton flop on an NBA court all the time.
Anthony Martinez from the 2002 class went to my high school. He's a pretty cool guy ended up playing Minor League baseball for awhile. Too bad he had horrible taste when choosing what college he would attend.
Good list - thanks!
Is there any relation between the Minors? Roland, Raymond, Brandon, AAA Richmond Braves, etc.?
I do miss our Braves. Still haven't been to a Flying Squirrels game.
I've been to one, and it was so I could see Beamer throw out the opening pitch
If you don't have kids, I don't think it's that worth it. My family has gone a couple times (the youngest being 18) and you shouldn't go for good baseball. They have all sorts of things happening between innings to entertain you. It's a good thing to take your kids to, though.
I miss the R-Braves. I love the Squirrels. Minor league baseball is a great entertainment value. YMMV.
To be fair I'm not the biggest baseball fan. And seeing a guy barely feed an easy fly out can be entertaining.
Wasn't Kendall Fuller a 5*?
Edit: from Maryland, sorry
Nice List - could be fun to see a nerd breakdown of # of stars vs. success vs. whatever - position, area of the state, schools, etc. Lots of pivot options to try and validate some of the star ratings (e.g., a 4 star RB is more of a lock vs. a 4 star OL, or 4 stars from Richmond are better than 4 stars from SWVA, etc.). Maybe a good off season exercise for someone.
I just came up with an awesome idea for a GIS project, figuring out recruiting hotspots based on number of starters out of a region, number of all conference players out of the region and maybe a few other products....it could be interesting I mean naturally youd probably see a lot in Hampton and northern Virginia but Im curious to see if there are any diamond in the rough spots. Also, that being said I could do something based on percentages of the players out of the region that become starters/stars....itd take a shit ton of data though and a lot of spare time....that I may have over the summer
So eshiben, since we had a Polar Vortex, does that mean we're gonna have a Pollen Vortex?
ALLOFTHEPOLLENS
but no seriously this summer (severe weather wise) is looking less and less exciting by the day :\ im gonna be REALLY bored
cue tornado...
Nooooo!! I want thunderstorms! But no derechos.
Haha there'll be thunderstorms I'm sure but no supercell scary/intense stuff at least in the early season the outlook is looking kinda slow. That being said it only takes one outbreak for everyone to remember a year for the next decade
I really, really, really don't want a pollen vortex.
I would like to help in this quest! awesome idea!
Well are you a current student? We could meet at major Williams tomorrow and get cracking I'm gonna start putting together a recruit list tonight
How about you just come out for Half Price Hurricanes tomorrow and we can discuss
Great Idea!! +1, Welcome to TKP!!
Alex!!!!!!!!! Haha what are you Doin this summer man? Wanna conquer this project together?!
haha, i was wondering how long it would take you. I am down man!!
Cue someone saying: "See what do we need 4 and 5 star recruits for? They all fail! But Luther Maddy succeeded!"
Do the same analysis for the 2 and 3 star recruits and see how often they fail.
http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lewis_jonathan00.html UVA is trying so hard to be like us they're stealing our old players haha
LOL Peter Lalich