Former Commack star Sammy Prahalis named Stony Brook School coach

The Stony Brook School turned to one of Suffolk County’s best-known basketball names, hiring former Commack standout and WNBA guard Sammy Prahalis to lead its girls program. For a school that wants its athletics to produce character as well as wins, the move signals a push to turn an already established private-school program into a destination.

Prahalis said she sees the job as a clean slate and a chance to build something big “from the ground up.” That fits the school’s own message, which describes its girls basketball program as home to elite student-athletes from both domestic and international backgrounds and says athletics is meant to develop strong character, not just victories. The Stony Brook School also says its Blue and White teams have won more than 200 championships across league, Suffolk County, Long Island and New York State levels.

The hire also gives Stony Brook a coach with a deep Suffolk footprint and a clear track record. Prahalis began coaching as a volunteer assistant at Commack High School in 2016-17, then became head coach at Ward Melville High School from 2017-19 and at North Babylon High School for one season in 2019-20. James Madison University said her Ward Melville teams reached the first two county semifinal games in school history, a benchmark that stands out in a county where public and private programs compete for attention and talent.

Her college coaching résumé is built around recruiting and player development. James Madison said Prahalis-Holmes spent two seasons there as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before joining St. John’s University in July 2022. In her first season at James Madison, the Dukes went 14-10 overall, 9-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association, and earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.

Prahalis arrives with a playing career that already made her a local and national name. Ohio State and ESPN identify her as the 2012 WNBA first-round No. 6 overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury, the 2012 Big Ten Player of the Year, a 2012 AP first-team All-American and a 2008 McDonald’s All-American. She later played for the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks.

For Suffolk girls basketball, the hiring matters because it blends pedigree, local knowledge and recruiting reach. The Stony Brook School now has a coach who knows Commack gyms, county semifinals and the college game, and whose name alone is likely to draw attention from families looking for a program with ambition.