Omar Holness, who was a regular starter for both the national under-17 and under-20 youth teams, has revealed he snubbed being drafted into the United States' Major League Soccer (MLS) in favour of his academic pursuits.

Holness is in his second year at the US-based University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he is pursuing a degree in economics and management, with a minor in Spanish.

The versatile 20-year-old midfielder was tipped for a January 16 pick, possibly with the San Jose Earthquakes.

"The MLS was making me a good offer in the upcoming draft, but I sat down with my family and decided against it because of school," he told STAR Sports.

"I am confident another offer will come next year, as I will continue to play and perform consistently well," he added.

Holness did not divulge the specifics of the offer because contractual agreements, but thinks it was a good one. He scored four times while setting up eight goals this season for his university.

The institution is ranked eighth nationwide, and featured in the elite NCAA Championships last year.

Holness was the recipient of a football scholarship to that university, after graduating from Wolmer's Boys' School in 2011, having represented them in four Manning Cup seasons.

He also made consistent appearances in the national under-17 and under-20 football teams. Holness earned one senior international cap, coming on as a second-half substitute for the Reggae Boyz against Canada in September last year. Jamaica lost the contest 3-1 in Toronto.

"I am ready to play for Jamaica at any level once called," he said, noting that he will depart the island today and resume school Thursday.

Meanwhile, according to www.sbisoccer.com an American soccer website has confirmed that the 2015 MLS Generation adidas class has offered Jamaica and Central Florida forward Romario Williams a Generation adidas contract.

It was not confirmed whether or not Williams accepted the offer. He was a former Jamaica under-17 player who represented Jamaica in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico and Kingston College in the Manning Cup.

S.F.