In some ways, Matt Kassel’s progression as a standout American soccer player has mirrored the game’s development here in the United States.

As a toddler he got a brief but intense exposure to the highest level of the game, watching with his parents from Giants Stadium as matches in the 1994 FIFA World Cup took place.

From there he began showing a real acumen for the game and  with the support of his family spent a lot of time working on skills and competing. As he entered the elite youth scene he began to stand out and was recognized by U.S. Youth Soccer’s ODP setup, from where he was able to compete at a high national level and get some international experience.

A few years ago as the professional game began to mature in this country, Kassel joined the youth setup at New York Red Bull and has seen his development accelerate ever since. Now in his final year of high school, he represents an increasingly prevalent dilemma for top players in this country: College or Pro?

Kassel has already signed a letter of intent with the University of Maryland as one of the most prized recruits of the 2008 graduating class, but the youth program at Red Bull is specifically for the purpose of identifying and developing future professional talent, and the MLS club is hoping the New Jersey standout will start playing for pay now, rather than later. He begins training again with the first team March 25 and is currently discussing a contract.

But before we get into all of that, you have to remember that for someone to have such a decision, they have to be a top talent, and Kassel definitely is.

The wiry midfielder has an excellent pair of feet, passing and receiving the ball with efficient precision. His vision is second-to-none on the youth level and he’s just as likely to hit a defense-splitting pass as to strike a rocket into the back of the net. He can also run with the ball and is not shy at all about getting stuck in to win balls and help his team on the defensive end.

The player himself credits his involved at Red Bull as having made a big difference in his recent development.

“Once I got here I really began to develop more and more each day. It’s helped me progress to where I am today and I am continuing to progress,” Kassel said. “With the Red Bull Academy, I have better players around me and coaches who can tell me and show me the right things to do on and off the field. This environment I’ve been in has been really valuable and it’s a thing where day in and day out you’re competing for spots.”

Red Bull youth coach Paul O’Donnell said a number of factors combine to make Kassel such an attractive prospect.

“Since Matt joined us in the academy 3 years ago, he was always one of the more mature players here, even though he was playing up,” O’Donnell said. “He’s been very set on what he wants to do in the game, and so his professionalism at a young age has been very good. He’s one of the most well-rounded players we’ve had. He’s technically solid and tactically very aware of the game and what needs to be done. Over the past 3 years we’ve seen him develop into a player who is capable of playing at the next level.”

Kassel has been around soccer all of his life, with his father Tim having started the youth program in Bridgewater, NJ and having been involved with the World Cup and the MetroStars professional team. Tim Kassel said Matt benefited from a soccer-friendly environment.

“He’s the kind of kid who really understands the game. He has an ability to play quickly which is something I always thought was very important. From an early age we tried to make sure he developed his skills, but we always worked on his vision and other things that later on would make the difference,” Tim Kassel said. “He started playing early and pretty much wore out the front lawn. He had his own internal drive to become a better player and was playing all the time. I remember him at all the World Cup games here when was 4 or 5. I still remember him and my wife sitting with Tab Ramos’ parents at Giants stadium during the World Cup. This carried over to following the MetroStars. I wasn’t involved with the coaching but I had access so he had some opportunities to see up close  and get little experiences like that.”

Gina Kassel said a mental and emotional edge have provided Matt with an advantage.

“He was always a determined kid. He was always out on his own practicing and chasing a ball around the house. If he set forth a goal he would do it,” she said. “He always had a passion for the sport, part of which came from watching my husband. It was a bond the 2 of them always shared, whether he was playing, watching on TV or we were going to games as a family.”

Matt, whose 2 older sisters also played club and high school soccer, is now leaning toward being a player who other people pay to see play. While the bias among the American soccer-playing populace is clearly toward college, the Kassels recognize some shifting sands on the landscape and are looking for the right opportunity.

“We had a meeting with the league and the Red Bulls. Now we’re trying to see what is the best thing to do,” he said. “I want to become a professional player, so if I have the opportunity to do that now and it’s the right environment I need to look into that.”

Preserving college eligibility has prevented Kassel from accompanying the first team squad on some preseason trips (NCAA regulations prohibit players from competing in matches alongside professionals), but the player and O’Donnell indicated the team’s interest in signing Kassel is serious (under the new MLS youth program, a player is eligible to be signed as a home-grown player after 2 years in the program.

Given that he would be walking away from a generous scholarship package at Maryland, Kassel is cognizant of the fact that the offer from Red Bull needs to be compelling.

“Maryland is a great program with Sasho and the others,” Kassel said. “So we’re talking with MLS about a Generation adidas contract, not about going into the league for 30 grand a year.”

Kassel also has a sober perspective of the challenges facing him if and when he becomes a professional.

“We understand there are no guarantees in this profession and you have to prove yourself day in and day out. You can’t go in half-baked. You have to be fully enthused and really know it’s a lot of work. There’s nothing easy about it. Your job always on the line,” he said. “ I’m comfortable and ready for a challenge like that. I’m in a very good situation and I feel honored about that, but the job’s not done. I have to continue working.”

Tim Kassel says his son has benefited from the family being in tune with the latest developments in American soccer.

“Most parents don’t have that access to the information, that might be the difficult part for them. We are fortunate to understand the program,” he said. “You start with the basics when try to develop a player, well it’s same with getting to the next level. Then you have to make an unbiased evaluation of whether the player belongs there or not. In the last 2-3 years we’ve sort of removed ourselves from that. Now it’s time for him to stand on his own. It’s important that we give him a good support structure and point out good and bad aspects of things, but in the end I don’t think the decision is that hard.

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