This is what we want right? More kids going over? Even if all they do is flame out and bring some knowledge back?
There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, IMO. In Jones' case, he's leaving behind a very crowded situation at attacking midfield at Atlanta (big stars, new foreign acquisitions, other domestic prospects like Carleton) and going to a well-regarded academy in Schalke, so it would seem to be a good move for him. In Year One, Atlanta was very impressive in most ways, but Tata has yet to show much inclination towards playing young players. Atlanta needs to change that to retain all of their academy talent.
Going overseas is usually a good move if (a) the Euro club is one that brings academy players through to the first team, (b) the player can psychologically handle the experience of moving overseas [loneliness, cultural barriers, etc], and (c) the player is willing to cut bait when the writing is on the wall instead of pulling a Junior Flores (who is unbelievably STILL on the books at Dortmund).
In limited viewings Jones has actually struck me as a guy who is more of an athlete than anything else and I'm a little surprised that Schalke signed him, but it's possible they like his raw materials and think they can teach him a few things. Or maybe he's just better than I think he is. They are clearly interested in American youth; McKennie looks like a big hit for them. I don't think Haji Wright is going to hack it there, but Nick Taitague might. They had a few other guys on trial a few months ago, too.
The best players want to play in the best leagues. MLS clubs have been investing heavily in youth infrastructure, but too many of them have not fully followed through by adopting an organization-wide philosophy that's inclined towards taking chances on young players and giving them playing time, then selling them when reasonable foreign offers come in. Resistance to selling is something that makes sense for individual clubs for two reasons. One, MLS clubs are weirdly "small" clubs on the global scale despite having largely big-time club owners in terms of wealth. They don't need the money like a middling Belgian league club might. Second, MLS rules are configured in such a way that player sales don't generate enough "usable" revenue that can be plowed back into salaries. Teams often get more on-field value by riding out a player's contract and letting him walk on a free.
I think what fans, media, and owners are now seeing is that the league needs to decide what it wants to be with regard to youth development. If they want to mostly resist selling players, they will retain some players, but those players will possibly stagnate AND other players with eyes on Europe will bypass the league entirely.
We are seeing teenaged players bypass MLS at an increased rate because the US is scouted heavily now, the number of talented teenagers with good potential is possibly larger, and because players talk. MLS now has a well-known and well-deserved reputation for being too conservative with young players and too conservative/unreasonable about selling good players. I think MLS can and should be part of the pathway to the best teams and leagues in Europe, but we need to see more affirmative steps made by the league and individual clubs in order to make that happen.