quality of the recruits and the quantity. The avg star rating shows the quality of recruits signed. The quality / avg star rating is more important separating regular teams with good teams.
For example Colorado State is ranked 68th with an avg recruit star rating of 84.16 and UCLA is ranked 69th with an avg recruit star rating of 88.21.
UCLA has all 4 star and high 3 star players in this class. CSU has mostly all low 3 stars. CSU only out ranks UCLA because CSU has 18 recruits and UCLA only has 11 recruits.
Even though CSU out ranks UCLA no way do they have the better players.