The latest Yale-to-Hopkins flip was awesome on Monday, continuing to showcase his sneaky off-ball instincts and savvy left-handed finishing. Simply put, he’s among the best in the class at what he does — and he’s smart and self-aware enough to lean into his strengths rather than force dodges. James excels at finding soft spots in defenses, putting himself in position to finish plays and pairing that awareness with an excellent handle and smooth shooting stroke. Playing alongside longtime club teammate and fellow Blue Jay commit Jake Johnston, he notched a hat trick in the opener and added another goal in the next game. I’m a big fan of his game and think it could translate well, especially given the offensive talent JHU has stacked in its ’26 and ’27 classes.

James, a lefty attackman committed to Yale, recorded 39 goals and 19 assists last season as a sophomore. He is a very complete player who finishes everything inside, whether it’s a doorstep cut or a lefty wing shot. James excels at dodging to score, effortlessly beating his defender, and consistently keeping his head up to locate the open man. He will be Smithtown East’s go to guy this spring.

The do-it-all attackman for the Bulls took a big step during his sophomore year and proved he was a top ‘26 prospect on the island. He was tasked to be an elite scorer and feeder during the spring and he did a fantastic job. James took a leap in his athleticism, as his speed allowed him to gain separation and crank home shots on the run. His feel for the game was impressive, as he set up teammates and had good awareness of where he was on the field and making the correct decision. James is a nifty lefty and consistently made defenses pay for their mistakes. He also showed ability to score with his right hand at times last season.