In our experience (with two kids, both double sport high level athletes) that is as far as “recruited” goes at a prep school. Now, I am talking about the highest level academic prep schools. If you are talking about schools further down the reputation list I think coaches get a little more “I can get your kid in” ish.
I will name names as an example. All these schools I have knowledge of coaches talking to my kids or kids I coached. If you are a high level athlete applying to Tabor and the coach wants you + you are anywhere in the academic standards realm you will likely get in. If you are applying to Groton or PA the coaches have much less sway and you need to be an academic stand out as well as having coaches support to get in. Athletic ability is 100% taken into account - I have heard conversations between coaches and AOs that fully supports this.
You will not know if you have been accepted in advance unless you are going pretty far down the reputation list.