Before he became the nation’s top-ranked recruit, James Holbrough ’27 spent his early childhood living with his family on Berkshire’s campus, where his father coached Boys Varsity Lacrosse. With older siblings who also played the game, James was surrounded by lacrosse from the start. Now ranked No. 1 in the class of 2027 by Inside Lacrosse, he has committed to the University of North Carolina, continuing the family’s legacy.

On most mornings and evenings in Rochester, New York, you could find James and his older brother, Jack, in the front yard, battling one-on-one as if a national championship were on the line. 

The brothers drew a small but loyal audience.

“We have a neighbor who has a younger son, and he would walk to school and back every day,” said their dad, Cory Holbrough. “My boys would be in the front yard with full gear on, going at it. The dad and his kid would stand there and laugh. He’d say, ‘My son just loves your guys.’”

Those front yard battles weren’t just neighborhood entertainment; they were the foundation of something greater.

Lacrosse has always been part of the Holbrough family story. James was born in 2008, while his family lived in the Crispin-Gordon-Rose dormitory on the Berkshire School campus. At the time, Cory––a former Union College standout who went on to play professionally for the Boston Blazers in 1997––was coaching Boys Varsity Lacrosse from 2006 to 2010, while James’ mother, Keira ’92, served as Berkshire’s Director of Alumni Affairs.

The Holbroughs’ passion for lacrosse extends to every member of the family. Jack, who graduated from Berkshire in 2025, is in his first year at Gettysburg College, where he plans to play next spring. Their sister, Brogan, a senior at Connecticut College, has played on the women’s lacrosse team for the past three seasons. Eva, the youngest Holbrough sibling, plays for the Monster Elite Girls Lacrosse Club (class of 2028) under her father Cory’s coaching. She plans to continue her lacrosse career in college as well.

“From the start, my dad coached me,” James said. “I was always around his teams, watching practices, learning the drills, seeing how he talked about the game. A lot of my vision comes from learning about the game at a young age and seeing things from a coach’s perspective.”

Cory, who’s spent nearly three decades coaching both box and field lacrosse, said his son’s passion and understanding of the game were apparent early.

“I just always saw that interest from him,” Cory said. “When I was coaching a high school team in Rochester, James was always on the sideline. He was learning and watching from kids that went on to play Division I. When you have an older brother and you’re a coach’s kid, you have to play up. He just brings an intangible lacrosse IQ.”

When it came time to look at high school, James approached the process thoughtfully and ultimately returned to where it all began.

“I was attracted to Berkshire as a whole,” James said. “I looked at other schools, but the community and my brother being here were definitely big reasons I chose it. I got to see Jack and his friends, meet other students, and my family came up for Family Weekend. I remember it being so loud and exciting, and I noticed how people interacted around campus and how strong the sense of community was.”

Having Jack on campus made the transition easier and a lot more competitive.

“Jack would always guard me in practice,” James said. “When we were younger, we used to play together, and then he left our local high school team after freshman year. I was going into eighth grade at that point, so having him around at Berkshire for my first two years really helped me get comfortable and grow as a player.”

James also credits upperclassmen teammates with shaping his development. During his first year, he played alongside senior captain Drew Bogardus ’24, who now plays at Hofstra University.

“Our families have known each other for a while, so getting to play with Drew for one year was pretty sweet,” James said. “Being able to play almost a secondary role freshman year with him and having him guide me was really helpful in my development.”

Watching players like Bogardus balance competitiveness with composure gave James a model for the kind of leader he wanted to become.

Now a junior, James has carved out his own identity as a dynamic attackman with a natural feel for the game. His fluid movement keeps defenders guessing, and his field vision allows him to spot opportunities before they fully develop. That awareness didn’t happen overnight; it comes from years of growing up around the game and developing a deep understanding of its nuances.

Last season, he tallied 48 goals and 38 assists, balancing scoring with elite-level playmaking.

“James is like having a third coach on the field,” Cory said. “He directs traffic, communicates, and helps other players learn the game just by watching him.”

That combination of leadership and instinct has earned James national recognition. A two-time All-NEPSAC selection and No. 1-ranked player in the class of 2027 by Inside Lacrosse, he’s been described as “a walking highlight reel.”

“James has a knack for making everyone around him better,” said Boys Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach Chris Perkins. “He sees the whole field. His vision and ability to anticipate openings are what separate him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of his passes get picked off.”

This past September, James committed to the University of North Carolina, where he plans to study finance.

“When he graduates two years from now, it’s going to be a much better version of what we see now,” Perkins said. “I think some kids peak, and there’s still a ton of growth left in James. As good as he is, there’s still room for him to get better before he leaves here and moves on to the next level.”

For James, that growth isn’t just about his game; it’s about his character.

“I hope when I leave here, people remember me as a good person,” James said. “I hope the younger kids remember me as a captain who led by example and helped others, whether it’s on the field or off.”