When the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game kicks off Wednesday against Mexico’s U-20 National Team, it will be a smorgasbord of USL flavor from start to finish.

The league is well represented with 16 players carrying USL ties, with the majority of this field having had a tremendous impact in the league. The Homegrown Game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., with U.S. Soccer legend Landon Donovan coaching the Homegrown Team.

Among the 14 field players with USL ties, this group accounts for 62 goals and 51 assists during their league tenure. Jack McBean leads the way with 26 goals in 69 games with the LA Galaxy II, and Los Dos teammate Raul Mendiola is atop this group with 17 career assists. McBean also leads the USL this season with 15 goals.

Among the entire 16-player group, the USL field has played a combined 407 league matches.

Tommy Thompson, who has featured for Sacramento Republic FC for the past three years while on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes, is the only player among this group to have been named to all three MLS Homegrown Game rosters.

Because of health issues, Harrison Heath (Orlando City B) and Aaron Kovar (Seattle Sounders FC 2) will not take part in Wednesday’s match. Rio Grande Valley FC’s Christian Lucatero will be one of the replacements, meaning 14 field players and two goalkeepers on the MLS Homegrown roster have ties to the USL.

The New York Red Bulls II’s Derrick Etienne Jr. was also added to the group this week as Joey Calistri of the Chicago Fire could not participate because of injury.

Mexico’s U-20 roster includes Real Monarchs SLC goalkeeper Christian Herrera, who is on loan with Liga MX’s Pachuca. Herrera was with the Monarchs during their 2015 debut season, but he was not used during league play.

Career USL stats (through July 24, 2016):
Danny Acosta (SLC): 0G, 0A, 13 games
Tyler Adams (NY): 0G, 0A, 22 games
Jay Chapman (TOR): 2G, 1A, 11 games
Coy Craft (OKC): 3G, 1A, 10 games
Justen Glad (SLC): 1G, 0A, 8 games
Jordan Hamilton (TOR): 9G, 3A, 26 games
Harrison Heath (ORL): 1G, 0A, 17 games (UNAVAILABLE – Injury)
Phanuel Kavita (SLC): 1G, 0A, 31 games
Aaron Kovar (SEA): 2G, 4A, 20 games (UNAVAILABLE – Injury)
Jack McBean (LA): 26G, 13A, 69 games
Raul Mendiola (LA): 7G, 17A, 51 games
Jalen Robinson (RIC, AZ): 1G, 1A, 40 games
Tommy Thompson (SAC): 3G, 2A, 15 games
Tyler Turner (ORL): 4G, 3A, 40 games
>Christian Lucatero (RGV): 0G, 3A, 15 games (REPLACEMENT)
>>Derrick Etienne Jr. (NY): 5G, 7A, 30 games (REPLACEMENT)
TOTAL: 62G, 51A, 381 games (stats do not include Heath/Kovar)

Maxime Crepeau (MTL): 3-17-4, 96Sv, 25 games
Jesse Gonzalez (PGH): 1-0-0, 2Sv, 1 game
TOTAL: 4-17-4, 98Sv, 26 games

TOTAL GAMES: 407 (stats do not include Heath/Kovar)

>Lucatero was named as one of the replacements for Heath and Kovar
>>Etienne Jr. was named as a replacement for Chicago’s Joey Calistri

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Tyler Adams | Midfielder | New York Red Bulls II

• 2016: Adams has appeared in 11 games and has logged 869 minutes this USL season for a NYRBII side that has been near the top of the Eastern Conference standings all year in its second season.

• Noteworthy: Last year, Adams tallied the go-ahead goal during the New York Red Bulls’ 4-2 international exhibition victory against the English Premier League’s Chelsea FC, which had won its fourth Premier League title earlier in the year. In addition to signing with the Red Bulls II and appearing in 11 USL matches in 2015, Adams also was a member of the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team during the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Coy Craft | Midfielder | OKC Energy FC

• 2016: OKC’s new affiliation this season with FC Dallas is paying off with the services of Craft. He is tied for the team lead with three goals while also contributing an assist in 10 games and 576 minutes thus far for Energy FC.

• Noteworthy: At age 17, Craft signed a Homegrown contract with FC Dallas in August of 2014, and he has now appeared in at least one MLS match for three straight seasons. Craft made his first appearance of 2016 as a second-half sub during Dallas’ 1-1 road draw against the Colorado Rapids this past Saturday. Earlier this year, Craft represented the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team at the NTC Invitational in Carson, Calif. He tallied a goal during the team’s second match against Panama, a 4-0 victory. This will be Craft’s second straight appearance on the MLS Homegrown Game roster.

Maxime Crepeau | Goalkeeper | FC Montreal

• 2016: Crepeau has seen action in 14 games this year, posting 51 saves in 1,260 minutes.

• Noteworthy: The 22-year-old Quebec native has yet to see time in MLS with the Montreal Impact, but he has seen some valuable time in the USL over the past two seasons. Last year he made 11 starts, came up with 45 saves and posted four shutouts to lead the club in all three categories as it utilized four goalkeepers during its first season. This past January, Crepeau also made his debut for the full Canadian National Team in an exhibition against the United States. 

Derrick Etienne Jr. | Midfielder | New York Red Bulls II

• 2016: Etienne has taken on a significant role for NYRBII in his second season with the club. He leads the team with four assists while also contributing two goals in 16 games and 1,285 minutes.

• Noteworthy: The 19-year-old Haitian midfielder featured 14 times in regular-season play during the 2015 USL season, tallying three goals and three assists while he was an Academy signing. Having already flourished at every level of the Red Bulls’ Academy system, Etienne signed a Homegrown contract in December of last year. Internationally, Etienne has appeared for various levels for Haiti, most recently its U-23 national team. He is the son of former Richmond Kickers forward Derrick Etienne Sr.

Jordan Hamilton | Forward | Toronto FC II and Wilmington Hammerheads FC

• 2016: Hamilton made three early-season appearances for TFC II in late April and early May as he has spent the brunt of the year with the MLS side.

• Noteworthy: The 20-year-old Ontario native signed with Toronto in 2014 but spent most of the year on loan with Wilmington Hammerheads FC, tallying six goals and three assists in 13 games. He then scored three goals in 20 games during Toronto FC II’s 2015 campaign. On the MLS side, Hamilton has appeared for Toronto FC in three consecutive seasons, and he is enjoying one of the most successful 2016 MLS campaigns among this group of USL-tied players. He has three goals in eight appearances, including seven starts. His three tallies are tied for second on the club, with his first MLS goal occurring on June 1 during a 3-0 victory against the Montreal Impact.

Jack McBean | Forward | LA Galaxy II

• 2016: McBean holds the USL goal-scoring lead with 15 goals in 17 games. He has more than doubled his career USL goal-scoring total this year, currently sitting at 26 over three seasons with Los Dos.

• Noteworthy: In 2011, at 16 years and 312 days old, McBean became the youngest player in LA Galaxy history to score a goal during his MLS debut against the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 23. Among this year’s MLS Homegrown Game players, McBean has the most USL regular-season goals (26) and appearances (69) and the second-most assists (13).

Raul Mendiola | Midfielder | LA Galaxy II

• 2016: Mendiola has tallied a goal and two assists in 12 games this season for the Galaxy II. 

• Noteworthy: Like McBean, Mendiola has seen plenty of regular minutes with Los Dos in the USL over the past three seasons. He led the 2015 squad with eight assists to go along with four goals in 19 regular-season games. During the Galaxy II’s debut USL season in 2014, he recorded two goals and a team-high seven assists in 20 games. Because of the LA Galaxy’s impressive attacking depth, Mendiola joins a pack of talented players who have not seen extensive MLS play. Outside of three appearances off the bench in 2014, Mendiola has yet to return to the MLS pitch. But that hardly means he is off of the radar. One month ago, Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena tabbed Mendiola as “our best Homegrown Player right now because he is never in fear of the moment.”

Tommy Thompson | Midfielder | Sacramento Republic FC

• 2016: Thompson has two goals in seven games for Republic FC this season, with both goals coming during Sacramento’s 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on May 14. Thompson garnered USL Player of the Week honors for his effort. Thompson is named to his third Homegrown Game roster, the only person among the USL group to have been a part of every edition of this setup.

• Noteworthy: Since signing a Homegrown contract with the San Jose Earthquakes, Thompson has had several stretches as a loanee with Sacramento over the past three years. In total, Thompson has appeared in 15 USL matches, and he recorded a goal and two assists in 2015. In MLS play, Thompson still is searching for his first goal and assist, but he has seen some regular time in three seasons with 16 starts and 40 appearances overall. Thompson is a former U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team player, having represented the country during the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Tyler Turner | Defender | Orlando City B and Orlando City SC (USL)

• 2016: During Orlando City B’s first season, Turner has been one of the club’s strongest contributors with three goals and an assist in 16 appearances, logging 1,205 minutes. He recorded a brace during OCB’s 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on April 22, earning USL Player of the Week honors for his performance.

• Noteworthy: Turner signed both a USL and MLS contract in 2014 with Orlando City SC, which was heading into its final USL season that year as the organization transitioned to MLS for 2015. During that 2014 season, Turner tallied a goal and two assists in 24 regular-season games, and was a finalist for the USL Rookie of the Year award. Though he has not made an appearance for Orlando City during the 2016 MLS season, he did earn five starts in seven appearances in 2015. Turner has featured for the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team, in addition to a number of younger levels being a former U.S. U-17 Residency Program member. This is Turner’s second straight appearance on the MLS Homegrown Game roster.

OTHER USL TIES:
Danny Acosta | Midfielder | Real Monarchs SLC

• 2016: The 18-year-old Acosta has appeared in 10 matches and logged 614 minutes this season for the Monarchs, including seven starts.

• Noteworthy: Acosta made three starts during the Monarchs’ inaugural USL season in 2015, and the former Academy product would later sign a Homegrown contract in December. He has the versatility to play both center back and midfield, but the Monarchs have primarily played him in a holding midfield role this year. This summer, Acosta was called up to the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team for the NTC Invitational, where he scored a goal during a 4-0 win against Panama.

Jay Chapman | Midfielder | Toronto FC II

• 2016: Chapman made two starts and logged 140 minutes toward the beginning of the USL season.

• Noteworthy: Toronto’s Homegrown signing has been loaned to TFC II for the past two years, but his time with the first team has increased during this stretch. Last year, Chapman recorded two goals and an assist in nine games with TFC II. Over the past two years in MLS, Chapman has six starts, 22 appearances and has logged 660 minutes. He notched his first MLS assist on July 13 when he came off the bench during Toronto’s 1-1 road draw against Columbus Crew SC. Chapman joins the Homegrown Game roster for a second straight year.

Justen Glad | Defender | Real Monarchs SLC

• 2016: Glad started and played the full 90 minutes of the Monarchs’ season-opening 1-0 win against Saint Louis FC on March 26.

• Noteworthy: During the Monarchs’ first USL season, Glad started and appeared in seven matches, logging 556 minutes and tallying his first professional goal during a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers 2 on April 8, 2015. It was the first home goal in Monarchs history. The Real Salt Lake AZ Academy product signed a Homegrown contract with RSL in 2014 when he was 17. Glad was on the 2015 MLS Homegrown Game roster.

Jesse Gonzalez | Goalkeeper | Pittsburgh Riverhounds

• Noteworthy: FC Dallas loaned Gonzalez to the Hounds on Aug. 8, 2015, and in his professional debut he came up with two saves during Pittsburgh’s 3-1 win against Toronto FC II. Earlier that year he played in the 2015 MLS Homegrown Game and drew rave reviews during the 1-1 draw through 90 minutes and eventual shootout loss to Club America’s U-20s.

Phanuel Kavita | Defender | Real Monarchs SLC

• 2016: Kavita has logged 940 minutes in 13 appearances for the Monarchs this season.

• Noteworthy: Originally from the Congo, Kavita moved to Utah at age 7 and worked his way up Real Salt Lake’s pipeline, from the Academy to a Homegrown contract in 2015. Kavita was a fixture for the Monarchs’ back line last year with 18 starts, 1,619 minutes and a goal.

Christian Lucatero | Midfielder | Rio Grande Valley FC

• 2016: The 19-year-old has mostly come off the bench during RGV’s debut season, but he has produced with three assists in 248 minutes and 15 matches thus far. He had two assists in only three minutes of regulation time during the Toros’ 4-1 win against the Swope Park Rangers on May 21.

• Noteworthy: Lucatero signed a Homegrown contract with the Houston Dynamo last year following an impressive two-season run with the Academy U-17/18 squad, scoring 41 goals in 54 games.

Jalen Robinson | Defender | Richmond Kickers and Arizona United SC

• 2016: Robinson made two starts and logged 180 minutes earlier this season for the Kickers.

• Noteworthy: Robinson has garnered valuable minutes in the USL since the 2014 season with both Arizona United SC and the Richmond Kickers, making a combined 40 appearances between the two clubs. His standout season was in 2015 with Richmond when he started in 15 matches and tallied a goal and assist. This is Robinson’s second straight Homegrown Game roster appearance.