I doubt that most teenagers are savvy enough to turn a few hundred thousand into being set for life. Lord knows most professional athletes can't seem to. When you throw in the maturity and life skills that a big time college program can instill, I'd advise most kids to take the education over $200K. Not to mention which will be more fun, riding on buses in the middle of nowhere or being a local celebrity and playing in front of thousands.
Now, if you start talking about real "set for life" money like Starling, that's a different story.
Now, if you start talking about real "set for life" money like Starling, that's a different story.