Yeah, the taller the position of need is, the more likely you need to find a project to fill the role. Simple numbers, there are fewer tall players (especially the 6'10"+ range), so the great and good ones get snatched up quicker.
I view ratings/rankings on the large scale as sort of like a lottery system. The higher rated the guy is, the better your odds he will turn out great. But virtually any player can still be a bust.
For a coach it's about being able to evaluate players and project where they will be at in 1-4 years (or more if you are looking at HS juniors/sophomores). Ratings start to become irrelevant on the individual level due to their worse ability to judge player personality, work ethic and project into the future.
Not only that, but ratings bounce around a lot and vary widely by service. Look at Samari Curtis who has been as low as 230 (4/3/2018) and reach 92 just over 2 months later and is now back at 180 (on 247 composite), but is ranked 119 by 247.
Any guy you have to do your diligence, but especially for a lower rated guy. There is usually a reason for a low rating (though some guys do slip through the cracks). The goal is to find guys who's issues are things you can work with and fix and who you can develop.
As I've said before, I'm not sure Brannen will lean more towards skills over athleticism. He may go for even more extreme athleticism, believing he can teach the offense. Athletes are also just more valuable then skilled players due to the fact that you can teach them skills. If we do go more towards skilled players it won't be a huge shift, but more guys of the Cumberland type (though not as skilled as Cumberland) who are above average, but not great athletes and more skilled as players.
