As advertised in every sense, the Rochester native has some of the best hands (and two-handedness) in the class and is seemingly able to get off high-quality shots off at will. He pairs great hands and a nose for the goal with excellent footwork and grit, as he routinely scores through substantial contact. Holbrough’s field sense is remarkable in that he has a special ability to see what’s coming his way and be a step ahead every play while knowing when to attack his man and when to become a distributor. He’s got a deep bag, even throwing a fake shovel pass at one point in Game 4 on the way to the rack. Holbrough had several highlight-worthy plays throughout the week in addition to numerous ridebacks. He’s just a really fun watch every time he’s out there.

James Holbrough, a 6’0 righty attackman from Berkshire School, has firmly cemented himself as one of the best 2027 attackmen and overall players in the nation. Putting up 86 points (48 goals, 38 assists) as a sophomore in the NEPSAC speaks volumes about his talent, vision, and composure under pressure. Holbrough pairs lightning-fast footwork with a quick and lethal shot and the ability to finish with either hand. He is, without a doubt, one of the best inside finishers in the class. He isn’t afraid to absorb contact and thrives as both a scorer and distributor. With elite vision, two-handed versatility, and a dynamic scoring skill set, Holbrough is a nightmare for defenses and a centerpiece for any offense.

Among the front-runners to ultimately be named the #1 recruit, Holbrough has put together quite a body of work over the years. When talking about his skill set, it all starts with his hands and stick work — it’s as if his stick is essentially an extension of his body. Paired with an aggressive dodging style and exceptional body control, he’s constantly in attack mode and racks up eye-popping plays while playing within himself at all times. Quite frankly, it’s hard to spot any glaring holes in Holbrough’s game right now. He’s widely respected as an outside shooter and takes pride in riding the ball back. Regardless of where he’s setting up his dodges, he’s highly dangerous as a scorer and a feeder and can make plays even with defenders draped all over him. He’s as advertised in every sense and will have a lot of significant offers thrown at him in September.

Viewed as one of the very best ’27s in the country, Holbrough backs up all of the hype. Formerly a member of the Class of 2026, the dynamic playmaker from Rochester is dangerous for a lot of reasons, but first and foremost, he’s a chameleon in the sense that his skill set allows him to be moved around and utilized in a multitude of ways. He can carry below the goal line and orchestrate the offense, attack from the wings, bang it from range, initiate his dodges from up top, or bump to the high crease and finish the rock. He does it all at a high level and does it with remarkable consistency. Even with defenses sliding to him early and often, Holbrough is so frustrating to defend because you can cover him well by staying on his hands or getting physical and he still finds ways to make big plays time and time again. As a dodger, he has excellent body control and change of direction, and as a finisher, he keeps goalies on their toes with his ability to change his release points and finish in tight windows with flare. Holbrough’s presence alone opens up a lot of opportunities for his teammates, and he did a nice job of sharing the ball. If you looked away and missed a Sweetlax goal this weekend, there’s a very good chance that No. 21 was involved, even if the play didn’t result in a point being added to Holbrough’s tally.