We can't pretend that we know what's going on in Matt Kassel's mind. It's been a while since we've been 18 years old, and can't say that we ever were top soccer prospects ourselves. What we do know that the Kassel could become the first player in MLS history to graduate from the academy to the senior team. Yet, after participating in Metro's first training camp of the preseason, Kassel did not join the team in California, and the University of Maryland expects him to join the Terrapin ranks in the fall. However, from what we can gather, it looks like Matt has not made his final decision. Yet.

So why would it be a decision at all? If Kassel is serious about his soccer career, why would he go to college, even if it is for a year a two, when he can jump straight into the pros? If he looks at the current US national team, he'll see players who either bypassed college altogether (Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley) or left college early (Carlos Bocanegra, Ricardo Clark, Oguchi Onyewu). The four-year college attendees are a small minority.

Now, no one is saying that Kassel is ready to jump to the US national team just yet, but what he must consider is the restrictions imposed by the NCAA, be it in the limited amount of training, or the quality of teammates and opposition. Of course, he could always go to Maryland for a year or two, and leave early, like Bocanegra, Clark, or Onyewu. And, according to MLS, Metro would retain his rights even if he chooses college (but with MLS rules changing by the minute, who knows for how long they would hold those rights). But why postpone the inevitable? Why not go to the pros right now, where one would probably learn more soccer-wise from a year on Metro's reserve squad, training with Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore, than from four years in college?

Here's why. Under MLS's restrictive roster rules, Metro is only allowed 18 senior team players. The other ten are developmental, and Kassel, who does not figure to be ready for the senior roster just yet, would have to fit that role. And, since he is not a Generation Adidas signee, he would be paid a developmental player's salary, which last year ranged from $12,900 to $17,700. It might be a good chunk of money for a teenager, but not much of a monetary incentive, to say the least. And with no guarantee that Matt would have a long-time soccer career, is that ridiculously low amount worth passing up a free ride at a university?

That decision is up to Matt and Metro. If we were Metro, if Generation Adidas is not an option, we would sign the kid to a developmental contract, but give him some incentive, be it a Red Bull endorsement deal, or a subsidized apartment and car. They can then parade Kassel as a success of their academy system, which can't hurt the recruitment of other potential top prospects. And that's even without considering the contributions Matt could provide on the field, be it this year or beyond.

If we were Kassel... Well, as we said in the opening, we have no idea what's going on in his mind. What's more important, your education or your soccer career? Do you take the sure thing, or do you take a risk?

We're waiting for Matt's decision.