IMHO the sole responsibility for all recommendations whether for employment or scholarships is to present the truth of any relationship three areas.
Length of time
position
whether they would be considered to bring back for position
In baseball a coach may make comment about position, skills level, of the 5 skills, with pitchers clocked time and records based upon factual data.
But a reference may not say anything derogatory about a prospect...to do so opens you up for lawsuit for defamation, slander and or preventing the individual from an opportunity.
The courts have upheld this principle time after time.
TRhit you think you helped your player but it sounds to me like you treated him like he was a pet...not a person.
JMO