Let me keep it simple, if you pick a team of the best 20 players after 9th grade, then pick a team after 11 grade do you think it would be the same 20 kids? I will not keep you hanging the answer is no.
Who is picking all 20. No one college is taking all 20. Colleges are taking 3/4 of these top students. Of the 20 I am sure 15 are still top prospects in 11th grade. Sure 5 or so may just get marginally better but for those who were able to recruit the players who remained the top players I think they would say it was worth it.
I agree with the article, in the near future for many reasons, I think the signing day will become the date we know where all the players are going.
