To answer the OP’s post…no you don’t have to pay NCSA to do your recruiting, generally they don’t have ‘special’ relationships with coaches or other offerings that are worth the $.
You can do your own recruiting: do your research to see if your skill level fits in and where, create a video, fill out online recruiting questionnaires, contact head/asst coaches, continue to follow up with coaches and see if you are getting interest, or not.
At my kids’ high school, sports are highly competitive. There are certain sports where a younger student might be able to make varsity early on, but other sports where it would be highly unlikely. Both types of students can be and have been recruited athletes who played in college.
We have also had JV’ers and students cut from the HS team (especially junior year when the opportunities decrease…all sports don’t have JV here), who have gone on to play in college, including a female who was cut junior year who earned a D2 volleyball scholarship recently (of course she did play club).