The USL begins this weekend – assuming the players don’t go on strike first – as the Championship and League One are scheduled to begin.
Whether or not the labor strife looming over the organization limits the start of the campaign, the league has blossomed as a platform for young players to get a first taste of professional soccer. The academy contract mechanism allows talented prospects to gain experience at the next level while also leaving the pathway for college opportunities down the road.
Here are some of the prospects to know who are expected to compete in either league as academy players.
