The single program idea is interesting, but I think more a reflection on the quality of players those teams recruit more than anything, plus the resultant 'connection' that is created. Mater Dei and CTK are two of the top programs in the country year in and year out and they attract excellent players, but considering that in the last 18 years (since Sue committed) they have graduated maybe 50 D1 players each, the number of players Geno has actually recruited from their programs isn't that high and the number he has gotten is pretty small. A player like AEH benefits from the early exposure she got when Uconn coaches were watching Sanaya and Edwards, and the trip(s) she took to Uconn with or to watch Sanaya. CTK is Uconn's 'back yard'. And Lou got the exposure to Uconn while they were recruiting her sisters.
Not saying that the coaching is not excellent at those two schools and that over the years Geno has obviously gotten to know them and they him - and that certainly helps in evaluation for Uconn and also for the players.
On the transfer flurry - the UNC situation is a bit unique (as was that 2013 recruiting situation - it may sound like a cool idea for HS kids to 'put together a package', but reality can be a little different when they get to college.) But even discounting the three transfers from UNC as scandal driven, there has still been a remarkable spate of high profile transfers this year. I hope it is an aberration and I think it may be, but Geno's point about the earlier recruiting of HS kids I think is true as well - 15 to 18 is a significant period of development in anyones life and especially an athletes - they are barely formed as athletes at 15 and yet the game of recruiting is forcing coaches to get involved earlier and earlier to make sure they are not seen as 'late to the game' by the recruit/their family.