In the debate of "nature versus nurture," Sands is no help. He says, about his laser-like focus on the field, "I would say it's probably more of a natural thing. That's something I've always been good at. I think definitely with some other people they kind of have to work on it more. But, it's always something that's been natural to me." His father is some sort of consultant, he tells me, but seems somewhat fuzzy on the details (as does NYCFC's publicist, so one can safely assume Sands' father is some sort of secret agent or costumed vigilante). His mother, he says, works for the Met Art Museum. He has a twin brother, Will, a striker who is also part of the NYCFC Academy and joined his brother this spring for the US Men's U-17 team's residency at IMG Academy in Florida but wasn't included on the U-17 World Cup roster (James seems confident that his brother will eventually also go pro); as well as two older sisters, all of whom he lovingly competes with in video games or family sports. When it comes to these intra-family face-offs, James usually teams with his youngest sister while his brother pairs up with the oldest. While his parents are clearly supportive of him, they do insist that he goes to college at some point, though from what I can tell that's the extent of any iron-willed control they hold over his career.