I guess my first suggestion would be to regard the ratings as an abstracted analogy for a player's physical and mental gifts -- his "tools". While it might be nice to have his high school stats, I suspect most scouts would have less regard for those than they would his physical capabilities. However, a computer sim like OOTP can't display the latter, in any event. It can only give the guy ratings.
As you watch a guy perform on your team -- and accumulate stats in the process -- you can refine your view of what the ratings (his apparent "tools") seem to be telling you.
At least, that's how I look at it.
