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WHAT'S MY NAME?
WORDS. Martin Kessler PHOTO. Ohio State Athletics
Samantha Prahalis
Too flashy. Too cocky. Not lady like – Samantha Prahalis has heard it all. But rather than shy away from the criticism, the Ohio State senior point guard has embraced it. Tat's what makes her the most exciting player in women's basketball.
Ohio State's lead was evaporating. After going up by as many as 14, the Buckeyes watched as Minnesota rattled off a 9-1 run to pull within six. Suddenly, the golden-clad Wil- liams Arena crowd was roaring back to life.
With the momentum shifting away from Ohio State on enemy turf, the Buckeyes' then-freshman point guard provided the answer: the rookie drilled a three-pointer from the right wing to halt the Gophers' run, putting Ohio State safely ahead by nine. Af- ter watching the ball sail through the net, the rookie lifted her right index finger to her lips and hushed the Minnesota crowd.
Prahalis, now a senior, will be the first to tell you that she's not your typical women's basketball player. She sports eight tattoos, has dyed jet-back hair, and brings a healthy dose of swagger (some might say cockiness) with her to the hardwood.
"I'm just not the girl-next-door type," she explains.
If you don't believe her, maybe this will convince you: After her cel- ebratory antics at Minnesota, Prahalis elected to ink "Shhh…" on the inside of her right index finger. Now all she has to do is raise her finger to get her message across.
While her tattoos and attitude certainly distinguish her from other female players, it is her game that truly sets her apart. A 5-7 point guard with Steve Nash-like vision and someone who honed her skills on some of New York City's most famous playgrounds, Prahalis brings to women's college basketball an unrivaled level of flash and flair.
Whether it's a between-the-legs bounce pass to a trailing teammate in transition, a deadly double crossover, or a no-look, behind-the-back pass, Prahalis tries to keep the crowd entertained.
"I just always thought adding a little flavor was fun," says Prahalis.
Prahalis, who grew up in Commack, N.Y., located an hour from New York City on Long Island, developed her unique style as a kid. Growing up, she would pore over DVDs and video clips of Allen Iverson, Pete Maravich, Jason Williams, and Magic Johnson. Then, she would hit the court with her trainer, Jerry Powell, and replicate her idols' moves.
"We'd do move after move after move," recalls Prahalis. "I just kind of kept up with it."
In high school, Prahalis used her flash and athleticism to overwhelm opponents. A six-year member of the Commack High School varsity
squad (she joined in the seventh grade), Pra- halis posted 2,372 career points. As a senior she averaged 30.1 points, 7.9 assists and 7.2 steals per game.
When it came time to settle on a college, Prahalis sought an environment that would support her up-tempo style of play. She eventually opted for Jim Foster's squad in Columbus, after the coach promised to mold the Buckeyes' offense around her skill set. So far, Coach Foster has kept to his word.
With Prahalis running the show as Ohio State's starting point guard, the Buckeyes have pushed the tempo and scored in bunches. In the three seasons preceding Prahalis' arrival, the Buckeyes never eclipsed the 80-point mark more than eight times in a season; Last season alone, Ohio State posted at least 80 points on 14 occasions. Prahalis has played a major role in that transforma- tion, posting 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.9
assists – good for third in the nation – per game last season.
"Coach Foster knew what he was getting when he was recruiting me," says Prahalis. "He's pretty much cool about (my style of play)."
But this coming season, the Buckeyes will need more than just flash from their lone senior. After a disappointing Sweet Sixteen exit ended last year's campaign, Ohio State and Foster will be looking to Prahalis to provide more leadership and consistency on the court.
This summer, Prahalis prepped for her new responsibilities by work- ing on her jump shot – both off the dribble and off the pass – and her ball-handling.
"I just want to touch on everything and become more of a total pack- age and a complete player," she says.
While Prahalis has spent the summer fine-tuning small aspects of her game, some of her critics wish she had undergone a more funda- mental transformation. Pointing to her to 4.0 turnovers per game last season, some fans wish she would develop a more conservative and traditional style of play. But just as in the past when youth coaches would try to restrict her game, Prahalis has ignored the criticism and stuck to what she does best: adding flavor and excitement to women's basketball.
"I'm not like your typical woman player, and I'm fine with that," says Prahalis. "I wouldn't change the way I play to conform."
In other words, Prahalis has a message for her critics: Shhh.
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