The return of the USL Championship is slated for this weekend, as the domestic league continues to build a reputation as an incubator of young talent.

With independent USL sides continuing to invest and build out academy infrastructure, young players are continuing to come through. Along with that, USL sides have looked to snap up young talent from other academies and offer a pathway to Europe.

Sticking with mainly domestic prospects, below is part one of some of the young players to watch in USL this season. To be eligible for this, players need to have signed a pro contract.