Darryl Prue

Darryl Prue (born c. 1966) is an American former collegiate basketball player who played as a forward for West Virginia University from 1985 to 1989. A standout at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., he was named to the Parade All-American ^[1]Fourth Team and the All-Met First Team in 1985. He was named to the 1985 All-Met Team.^[2] At West Virginia, Prue scored 1,426 career points and collected 865 rebounds, earning All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors for three consecutive seasons.^[3] He led the Atlantic 10 Conference in field goal percentage in 1988–89 (.633) and ranks among the program's all-time leaders in steals, field goal efficiency, and minutes played.^[4]

Darryl Prue was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where he developed a passion for basketball at a young age. He attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, a dominant program in the DCIAA, known for producing elite basketball talent. During his senior season (1984–85), the 6 ft 7 in, 218 lb forward averaged 23.6 points and 12 rebounds per game, leading Dunbar to a 28–1 record and a No. 1 national ranking.^[5][6]

Prue earned multiple national and regional honors that season. He was named to the Parade All-America Fourth Team,^[1] and was selected First-Team All-Met ^[2]by The Washington Post. His standout play attracted scholarship offers from several top collegiate programs, and he ultimately committed to West Virginia University.

Prue played four seasons at West Virginia University, scoring 1,426 points and collecting 865 rebounds.^[3] He led the Atlantic 10 Conference in field-goal percentage as a senior (.633) and ranks second all-time at WVU in that category. He also recorded 230 career steals—fourth in school history—including nine in a single game against George Mason in 1986.^[3]

Prue’s collegiate statistics are available via Sports-Reference.com and the WVU Sports Hall of Fame.^{[4] [3]}

Despite a successful college career at West Virginia University, Prue was not selected in the 1989 NBA draft. Analysts cited concerns about his size as a power forward and how his playing style would translate to the professional level.^[7]

Although undrafted, he continued to play in regional and semi-professional leagues and later became known for his coaching and mentoring work throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

After retiring from professional basketball, Prue joined the coaching staff at Morgan State University in 2007 as an assistant coach under head coach Todd Bozeman.^[8]

In September 2018, Prue became head coach at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia.^[9] After the school was renamed Alexandria City High School in 2021, he continued coaching there until resigning later that year following a courtside incident.^[10]

In July 2024, he was hired as head coach at St. Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland.^[11]

• WVU Sports Hall of Fame – Prue’s Hall of Fame bio highlights his 3,788 career minutes, 1,426 points, and leadership in three NCAA Tournament appearances. ^[3]
• The Washington Post – Covered Prue’s high school stardom at Dunbar and his commitment to West Virginia University:
  • Named a Parade All-American at Dunbar in January 1985.^[12]
  • Committed to West Virginia in July 1985.^[13]
  • Selected for the All-Met (sports) team in March 1985.^[14]
  • Featured in Interhigh League and practice coverage in late 1984.^{[15][16][17][18]}

• Chicago Tribune – Reported in 1985 that Prue, a former Georgetown recruit, failed to meet academic qualifications, prompting his move to West Virginia.^[19]

• The Register-Herald – Published a retrospective on Prue’s career at WVU and his transition to coaching.^[20]

• The Baltimore Sun – Listed Prue among former athletes in 1999 sports briefs, referencing his presence in professional basketball circuits.^[21]

• WVU Sports – Featured Prue in a 2019 podcast reflecting on WVU’s 22-game win streak and 1989 Atlantic 10 championship.^[22]

• The Zebra – Covered Prue’s 2018 hiring as head coach at T.C. Williams High School and his overseas career, including 11 years and three league titles.^[23]
• The Inter-Mountain – Praised Prue’s Hall of Fame induction and key role in WVU’s 1989 26–5 season. ^[24]

On December 7, 2021, during a game at Wakefield High School, Prue entered the stands to confront a parent who he said had been using vulgar language. Video footage showed Prue being struck from behind after stepping down from the bleachers. In an interview with Fox 5 DC, Prue explained,

I had my hands up... What’s going on? How can we solve this? —Darryl Prue, Fox 5 DC^[25]

He was suspended the next day and resigned soon after, citing concerns for his physical and mental health.^{[26] [27] [28]}

• The Washington Post – Covered the December 2021 coaching controversy, including Prue’s resignation and the events during the Wakefield High game. ^[27]
• Fox 5 DC – Released exclusive video and follow-up interviews on the coaching incident and Prue’s reflections on dealing with heckling fans.^[29]
• WUSA9 – Reported on the altercation and resignation, including reactions from school officials and game attendees. ^[28]
• Defector – Published a national commentary on Prue’s case as emblematic of tensions between youth coaches and disruptive parents.^[30]

Prue remains one of the most efficient frontcourt players in WVU history, ranking second in career field-goal percentage, top 20 in scoring, and top five in steals.^[3] A three-time All–Atlantic 10 selection, he was known for his physicality, court awareness, and consistency, helping lead WVU to multiple postseason appearances and a 26–5 record in 1989. ^[24]

His transition into coaching further cemented his reputation as a leader and mentor in the D.C. metropolitan area basketball community. He coached at both the high school and AAU levels, including a head coaching role at Alexandria City High School, where he focused on student-athlete development and college preparation.^[31]

In 2021, Prue was involved in a courtside altercation during a high school game, an incident that drew national attention and contributed to broader discussions about the pressures placed on high school coaches and expectations of decorum in youth sports.^[32]

Prue’s career has been profiled in multiple media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Inter-Mountain, and Defector, and he was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.^[3]

• Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.)
• Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team
• Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
• Steve Turner (coach)
• Howard Blue