In a week highlighted by Round 3 of the group stage in the USL Jägermeister Cup, some top U-22 talent from the USL Championship, League One took their opportunity to make a big impression. Among them, a young attacking prospect with a familiar last name who delivered in his first action in more than three months, and a trio of U.S. youth internationals who featured prominently for their sides.

Here are seven young standouts you should know after impressive performances over the past seven days.

1. Diego Pepi, Texoma FC

Resilience is a crucial element for players at any level, particularly the ability to rebound from injury setbacks.

Making his first appearance in more than three months after surgery to repair a torn meniscus on Saturday night, Texoma FC’s Diego Pepi came through with flying colors.

The 20-year-old scored his first two goals for the club, including a sharply taken finish late in the first half that showed his anticipation in the penalty area, that were central to the game of the round in the USL Jägermeister Cup as Texoma narrowly fell 5-4 against the USL Championship’s Phoenix Rising FC.

“When he came here, we finally got him to a level where he was starting to believe in himself and starting to train and play in confidence and then he got injured,” said Texoma Head Coach Adrian Forbes. “Injuries are unfortunately part of the game and there’s nothing we can do about that.

“What he’s done to bounce back; go back to Dallas, do his treatment, and come back to us is a testament to his character. We still need him fitter, need him sharper, but to come in and play 90 minutes today and keep going was exceptional.”

The younger brother of United States international Ricardo Pepi – who also made a name for himself in USL League One at the start of his career – the 20-year-old joined Texoma on loan this season from FC Dallas aiming for a breakthrough season in a new environment.

With Texoma having overcome a slow start to its inaugural campaign, Pepi’s reintroduction to the lineup should provide another key attacking piece as the side looks to bolster its position above the playoff line nearing the midway point of the season.

“I’m happy to be back,” said Pepi. “It feels great to have been able to help the team tonight. The results have started to turn for us. We’re trusting each other and believing in ourselves and our mission.”

2. Pedro Guimaraes, Orange County SC

With an average age of 22.8 years old – including four teenagers – Orange County SC rolled out a young starting lineup for its clash with Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night.

In the end, the youngest player in the group delivered the game’s decisive moment as 17-year-old Pedro Guimaraes scored the stoppage-time winner to earn the side a 1-0 victory at Championship Soccer Stadium to give the club a second win in a row across all competitions.

“We had a very young team tonight, I think the youngest starting team in club history,” said OCSC Head Coach Danny Stone. “I think the way that the game ended, especially with Pedro scoring the winner in the 95th minute, that's obviously a nice moment for him, and one that he deserved tonight.”

The United States U-17 international has logged almost 600 minutes across all competitions on the back line for Orange County this season after turning pro with the club last summer from the LAFC Academy. While Guimaraes’ defensive numbers have been solid, his attacking instincts have been on show in his appearances in the USL Jagermeister Cup. Saturday’s goal was his second in the competition, illustrating his sense of when to take a chance that an opportunity could present itself.

“It was all just in the moment,” said Guimaraes. “I took it all in, and I saw Ethan Zubak had a bunch of space, so I went out onto the flank, and it was all instinct from there. I’m happy to get my second goal of the tournament.”

3. Nighte Pickering, Las Vegas Lights FC

While Nighte Pickering has been used sparingly in the USL Championship so far this season, when given opportunities to start in the USL Jägermeister Cup he’s made the most of them.

On Saturday night, the 20-year-old scored his second goal in the tournament with a tremendous long-range strike that picked out the bottom-right corner, providing the insurance marker in a 2-0 victory against Spokane Velocity FC that kept the Lights’ chances of advancing to the knockout stage intact.

The U.S. youth international has now scored four goals in all competitions this season, one off his single-season best since landing in the Championship at Memphis 901 FC in 2022. He’s also scored in consecutive appearances for the first time since a three-game run of goals for 901 FC two years ago, with he and Stefan Stojanovic finding the net to help Las Vegas continue its recent winning run.

“They are important strikers in this league,” said interim Lights Head Coach Giovanni Troise. “We spoke a lot about this situation. I’m happy that both of them scored, In the last three games, all our number 9s have scored, which is something of great importance for them mentally. They can come back here inside the pitch during training and during the weekend and be ready to help the team on our next game.”

4. Abdellatif Aboukoura, Loudoun United FC

Another week, another two goals for Abdellatif Aboukoura as he continues to raise the bar on a superb campaign for Loudoun United. The 20-year-old converted his third penalty kick of the season in the side’s midweek contest against Louisville City FC to move into a tie for the league-lead with 11 goals in the Championship, but it was his free kick against the Charlotte Independence that grabbed attention with the power and precision of the strike a summation of what he’s shown consistently this season.

Aboukoura has now scored 14 goals across all competitions, but the past week’s contrast in performances showed how he adapts to what opponents are showing him defensively. Against Louisville, the penalty kick was his lone shot of the contest as he recorded a game-high four chances created while also completing four dribbles. Against the Independence, he took four shots, putting two on target, finding good areas of space to attack Charlotte’s back line.

With United in a good position to advance in its USL Jagermeister Cup group and still in the top three in the Eastern Conference standings, the Egyptian youth international continues to find ways to make a positive impact.

5. Owen Damm, FC Tulsa

On paper, Owen Damm set up at left back for FC Tulsa on Saturday night against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in the side’s reformulated four-player back line.

In reality, the 21-year-old continued to show the attacking instincts that previously made him a dangerous attacking threat for the side playing as a wingback previously this season as Tulsa took a confident 4-1 victory at ONEOK Field that was capped by Damm’s third goal of the season.

After recording almost 2,000 minutes of action in his first season in Tulsa a year ago, Damm has come into his own this year, contributing three goals and three assists across all competitions to help power the Scissortails’ rise in the Western Conference. His growing confidence was illustrated in his goal, which he began and finished in brilliant style.

Switching to the right side after the side’s substitutions on the hour-mark, Damm followed his upfield pass that found Taylor Calheira, received the return pass, and then executed a one-two with Marcos Cerato that released him into the penalty area for a first-time finish.

The move in of itself was emblematic of the way Tulsa is performing this season, and how Damm is becoming a key element within that.

6. Rafael Jauregui, Charlotte Independence

Typically, you’d expect to see Rafael Jauregui further up the field, but on Saturday night against Loudoun United the 20-year-old was deployed as a right wingback as part of a five-player back line for the Independence and came through with a solid all-around display.

The Sacramento Republic FC product combined well with Juan Moreno on the right side and completed 22 of 24 passes overall while recording one shot on target and one big chance created for the visitors at Segra Field. He was also solid defensively, winning 2 of 2 tackles and 3 of 4 ground duels while making six clearances and three recoveries.

As the Independence look to push on in League One this season and remain in contention to advance in the USL Jägermeister Cup, it will be interesting to see if this shift for Jauregui becomes a more permanent feature in the side’s lineup.

7. Landry Walker, San Antonio FC

Having brought a new cohort of USL Academy signings into the squad early last week, San Antonio FC Head Coach Carlos Llamosa wasted little time in getting them action across the club’s two outings in Week 17. Last Wednesday night, he handed Leonides Urrutia his first start for the club against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, while the trio of Landry Walker, Braylon Jernigan and Leonardo Jauregui all logged minutes as second-half substitutes in the side’s 2-0 victory at Weidner Field.

“I’m really happy with the result, but more with those guys’ performance, the academy kids,” said Llamosa. “That’s something we wanted to do the last six months to keep those guys involved with the First Team and a lot of those guys had the chance to get minutes in two games this year, against Las Palmas and also tonight.”

Arguably the standout of the night was Walker, who completed 7 of 9 passes, recorded one tackle, one interception and one clearance and won 2 of 2 duels. Having last year become the youngest player to appear in an official contest in San Antonio’s history, the 16-year-old U.S. youth international is a player to monitor as he progresses at Toyota Field.