Back in the spring, Larkin guard Mia Carter started putting it together in her head.
Her dad, Deryn, was considering stepping down as the Royals’ boys basketball coach. Her coach, Stephen Knapp, was also thinking about stepping down as the school’s girls basketball coach.
Could that mean she could be coached by her dad for her senior season?
“When I heard coach Knapp was stepping down, I figured what was going to happen after that,” Mia said. “I was excited. I knew it would be a change, so I was a little nervous about that.
“But I had a good feeling about it.”
After 16 seasons in charge on the boys side, Deryn took over the girls program. He brought his father, Deryl, along as well.
Larkin’s Mia Carter (0) works around East Aurora’s Alyssa Adeoti (1) during the third quarter of a Upstate Eight West game in Elgin on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Deryn has brought the same level of accountability that he did with the boys program along with him, which has helped the Royals (8-2) get off to one of their best starts in recent memory.
“I feel like we have different expectations now and people are just more confident in themselves,” Mia said. “They know they can do certain things, so that uplifts the team.”
Deryn didn’t think this was how it was going to play out, but he has enjoyed the change.
“It wasn’t planned,” he said. “It was coincidental timing. It’s been awesome. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve coached a lot of these girls since they were in fifth grade.”
Larkin’s Mia Carter (0) hurries down court to defend against East Aurora during the third quarter of a Upstate Eight West game in Elgin on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Although he has coached his daughter since she was in grade school and in AAU, guiding her on the varsity in high school is a different animal.
“Doing it at this level has been a lot easier in part because she’s so dynamic,” Deryn said. “It’s easier to be on the sideline than in the stands. It’s easy to put the dad hat aside and just coach.”
The thing that stands out to him is how Mia, a Chicago State recruit, has continued to evolve.
Since he’s the head coach, Deryn can impart his wisdom even more. That includes expanding her impact beyond scoring, which will come in handy in college as well.
Larkin’s Mia Carter (0) tries to cut off East Aurora’s Ziah McDowell (3) on defense during the third quarter of a Upstate Eight West game in Elgin on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
“This year, the big thing has been efficiency,” Deryn said of Mia. “The other thing is trying to teach her and show her and having her grasp the fact she can dominate the game by not just scoring.
“I’ve coached some special players. She impacts the game as much or more than anyone I’ve coached.”
Mia, meanwhile, is enjoying the change.
“I’m starting to realize I don’t just have to score necessarily to win,” she said. “There are so many other things that can help us win.
“Some girls on our team are really stepping up with scoring, and that’s helpful because it takes pressure off of me.”
Being coached by her grandfather also is a first for her.
“It gives me another perspective,” Mia said. “As much as me and my dad try not to, we get into it and he’s there to calm me down. He has a lot of experience.”
Larkin’s Mia Carter (0) and her teammates watch from the bench during the fourth quarter of a Upstate Eight West game in Elgin on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Deryl has experience coaching girls at the high school level. He was on the staff at Whitney Young for his daughter, Corry, who is now the head coach at Chicago State.
He’s enjoying this extra time with his granddaughter.
“I thought she did well last year, but she’s taken a big step this year,” Deryl said. “She’s leading us in all categories and working hard. She’s going to be a great player at the next level.”
It’s a family affair as Mia hopes to leave her legacy at Larkin by helping the Royals win the program’s first conference title since 1979.
“I think it’s really important, just with the fact it hasn’t been done for such a long time,” she said. “When people look at Larkin girls basketball, they don’t think we have the opportunity to do that.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
