Folks...we're really beating this dead horse to death again...and again.
While the questions are good and legitimate, the "definitive" answers...those which are desired, are NOT going to be found here.
ChristCorp, has done a great job of explaining the process; and he has first-hand knowledge with his "firstie" son! And while every recruited IC experience is different, there's enough similarities to form an impression of the "general" process.
What can't be described, quantified, or deduced is: how many for each sport, what the criteria is used to determine who will be "blue chip" and so forth. I've personally worked with dozens of recruited athletes for USAFA. They are tagged "blue chip" initially. BUT...after ALO interviews, and our "background investigation" (the meat of an ALO's job) MANY of those athletes LOST their "blue chip" status.
We didn't say they weren't IC material, but something in our evaluation told the teams: 'not the best USAFA choice' for whatever reason. And some IC's have their "blue chip" status solidified by the ALO report.
But if you're 100% in need to know the precise numbers for IC's at USAFA, how many were Blue Chip, etc...etc...there is ONE person that can answer that perfectly (actually there are several but I won't list all their names) to your content: Dr. Hans Meuh, retired Brigadier General, the current Athletic Director. I met with him in June here in Arizona and we discussed IC's and his comments were: "Your ALO's are hugely important in assuring our recruited athletes meet all the requirements for entry into the cadet wing; our coaches are concerned with it too, but their work is limited by the NCAA...we rely on you for a LOT of the detailed work."
Since he was my chemistry instructor when I was a cadet, I took him at his word (I actually passed his class!)
Oh, I forgot to add this: those IC's that are "not quite there academically", either in GPA or SAT/ACT? They are the ones you see at the Prep School.
Please understand, the numbers everyone is posting here: speculation, some deduction, but mostly speculation. And Gotaplay2...I will pose your question to the folks "on the hill" tomorrow but I know their answer: athletes do NOT take priority for appointment as a general rule. While Division 1 is a factor at USAFA, it's not the priority. I would say the area of possible exception, now and then, is Football, Basketball, and Hockey. But not the way your comments infer.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83