They have always, or at least for the better part of the last two decades, recruited nationally and even globally. Yes, they have always had local "area" kids just like EVERY school does. Dickau, Ravio, Stockton, Morrison etc. etc. etc.

They also have always had players from outside the area. Let's list the best players GU has had over the the kenpom era 2002 to 2008:

2002: Ronny Turiaf- France, Alex Hernandez - Nevada, Anthony Reason - Florida, Cory Violette - Boise, Winston Brooks -Virginia, Forbes - London

2003: Ronny Turiaf - France, Richard Fox - Colorado, Violette - Boise, Tony Skinner - Albequerque, Brooks-Virginia

2004: Turiaf - France, Violette-Boise, Fox - Colorado, Skinner-Albquerque, 

2005: Turiaf - France, Batista - Brazil, Doudney, Texas

2006: Batista-Brazil, Pargo-Illinois, Gurganious- Oakland, Pierre Marie altidore-cespedes-Quebec, 

2007: Pargo-Illinois, Kuso-Nigeria, Bouldin-Colorado, Pierre AC - Quebec, 

2008: Austin Daye- California, Pargo, Illinois, Bouldin - Colorado, Kuso - Nigeria, Gurganious - California, Sacre - Canada