<p>As others have said, the correct choice is the school / academic program that he feels is best for him. He certainly won’t be held back in life because he chose Northwestern over an Ivy.
If playing ball is a very important part of the college experience, he will be expected to play and contribute from day 1 at an Ivy (no redshirt bs, except for an injury). A “preferred walk-on” at Northwestern will probably have a very clean uniform at the end of his career. Plus, the money at an Ivy will be at least as good as other schools, and better if the family AGI is under ~150-180K.</p>