One week after MLS kicked off its historic 25th season, the stars of tomorrow will be making their debuts as the 2020 USL Championship season gets underway this weekend.
Established MLS starters like Mark-Anthony Kaye, Aaron Long and Brendan Aaronson all cut their teeth in the second division before their opportunities came at the next level. And there’s no shortage of talent in 2020: The likes of Santi Moar and Solomon Asante will again be MVP candidates for last year’s regular season leaders Phoenix Rising and the “Great Dane” Thomas Enevoldsen will surely contend, as well.
Here are 10 more names with MLS connections to keep a keen eye on as the USL Championship season takes flight:
10. Caden Clark, NY Red Bulls II
Caden Clark made the jump from the FC Barcelona academy to the New York Red Bulls.
We’ll start with a 16-year-old player most of you have never heard of, but need to know now…Caden Clark.
Turning heads the past two years at the FC Barcelona residency academy, he also spent the last two seasons with special invitees at La Masia, FC Barcelona’s world-renowned training facility. Clark is very technical with a footballing IQ to match. Always willing to move beyond his pay grade, don’t be surprised to see him suiting up for John Wolyniec and the Baby Bulls this year.
9. Moses Nyeman, Loudoun United (loan)
D.C. United thought highly enough of Nyeman to sign him to a Homegrown contract as a 15 year old.
The 16-year-old Liberian-born American was D.C. United’s 13th Homegrown and 2nd youngest signing in club history. A holding midfielder by trade, his vision sets him apart as he’s become quite accustomed to pulling the strings in the middle for Ryan Martin’s squad.
Physical maturation and more regular explosions into the final third are the areas of focus as he looks to take the next step in his career.
8. Daniel Steedman, Atlanta United 2
Scotland-born Daniel Steedman signed with Atlanta United 2 on January 13, 2020.
Steedman comes to the South after receiving expert tutelage from George Gelnovatch at the University of Virginia.
A hybrid player in the middle who has no problem exploring the wings, the 20-year-old Steedman is quite crafty in 1-v-1 situations and he permitted the Cavaliers to break lines regularly during his tenure. He will most assuredly find himself at home under Steven Glass in the hope to catch the eye of senior team manager Frank de Boer.
7. Abraham Rodriguez, Colorado Springs (loan)
Abraham Rodriguez was signed by the Colorado Rapids in 2020 and will join Colorado Springs on loan.
By no means am I saying that the 17-year-old Colorado Rapids 'keeper is the next Tim Howard, but I’m also not dismissing the idea.
With confidence never lacking, he put on other worldly performances against the league's best last season. Just ask Phoenix Rising.
He is strong with the ball at his feet, he reads the game well and his range is elite. Reps for the US youth national team should be just around the corner, although our man at No. 6 will have something to say about that.
6. David Ochoa, Real Monarchs (loan)
Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa will look to achieve his Olympic dream while starring for Real Monarchs.
There’s a difference between confidence and cockiness — all the greats will tell you that. David Ochoa carries the perfect blend of both.
Ochoa isn’t the main reason the Monarchs claimed the title in 2019, but he was a big part of it. His stature and quick decision making give him the edge.
Freddy Juarez’s pecking order at Real Salt Lake could be breached should Ochoa keep up the great work. And it's definitely possible that he makes the final cut for the Olympics.
5. Michee Ngalina, Philadelphia Union II (loan)
Michee Ngalina has proven a difference-maker for Union II with his play on the wing.
Spending all of 2018 and the early part of 2019 with the Union II team, the 19-year-old Ngalina was rewarded with a Union contract in May of last year.
He has only made two appearances for Jim Curtin’s senior side (though he did make the 18 vs FC Dallas on the weekend), but he’s been crafting his trade to the tune of 46 appearances, 13 goals and 5 assists with Union II. He's gifted with speed and spatial awareness that are particularly useful on either wing.
4. Lagos Kunga, Phoenix Rising (loan)
Lagos Kunga will look to break through with the USL's top team in 2019, Phoenix Rising.
Not yet breaking through on Atlanta's star-studded matchday roster in MLS, the Atlanta Homegrown has been sent to perennial USL powerhouse Phoenix Rising to bolster an already potent attack.
With the injury to Josef Martinez and the offseason departure of Brandon Vasquez, Kunga may well receive a call back from his parent club.
3. Kai Koreniuk, Los Angeles Galaxy II
With his Dutch soccer pedigree, Kai Koreniuk has shown he has what it takes to be an attacking force in USL.
Developed across both AZ Alkmaar and Vitesse youth programs in the Netherlands, the 22-year-old Koreniuk possesses an uncanny ability to create something out of nothing in and around the 18-yard box.
Versatile is the best word to describe his game as he's capable of playing several positions across the attacking front, scoring nine goals in 2019.
2. Felipe Hernandez, Sporting Kansas City II (loan)
Felipe Hernandez is one of the most talented players to emerge from the Sporting Kansas City system.
The 21-year-old Hernandez, who has played for SKC's USL team since 2016, leads the charge, both literally and figuratively, carving out his own special place on the field.
Not a moment goes by that he isn’t pushing the game and dictating the tempo. Always on the front foot, he maintains a confident grace which allows him to explore his artistry in a way that's unrivaled by his peers.
1. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City (loan)
USL record scorer and Nashville SC forward Cameron Lancaster will play on loan with Louisville City.
A total of 26 goals in 33 appearances: That's the kind of production that 27-year-old Cameron Lancaster was capable of during his USL Championship record season of 2018 with Louisville City.
The former Tottenham Hotspur product, brought up alongside Harry Kane, never settled in at Nashville in 2019. Caught up in a system that didn't fit him with a few injuries to boot, his production dropped to just five goals in 13 matches in 2019.
Lancaster is lethal almost anywhere on the field. Healthy and fit, he can challenge for the Golden boot at the USL level. The question is whether he'll get the chance to do the same in MLS.
Devon Kerr is the featured analyst for USL Championship. He is also the co-host for the SCCL Show covering Concacaf Champions League. His background includes work in MLS, US Open Cup, NCAA College Cup and Concacaf League. Kerr’s playing experience includes Division I with Stetson University followed by trials with numerous MLS clubs settling in the Regonalliga of Germany with Altona 93. Moonlights as host of 3 Honest Lads weekly Podcast.
