Monday was the opening day of boys basketball practice around the state and in the Fox Valley it also meant the first official day of practice at their alma maters for two former area standouts who have taken over the reins of the programs they formerly excelled for.

Brett Porto conducted his first day of practice at Burlington Central. Porto is a 2003 graduate of BC and was the Daily Herald's 2002-03 Male Athlete of the Year. A three-sport athlete who also played football and baseball during his playing days for the Rockets, he led the area in 2002-03 with a 22.3 points per game scoring average and had 87 3-pointers that season.

Porto takes over at BC for Chris Payne.

Former Larkin standout Deryn Carter observed his first Royals practice Monday after taking over the program from Larry Hight. Carter is a 1998 Larkin graduate whose sister, Corry, is the highly successful girls basketball coach at Whitney Young in Chicago. Deryn Carter was one of the fiercest competitors the area has ever had. He scored 1,097 points in his Larkin career, ranking him third on the school's all-time scoring list. He was a two-time all-area player as well.

Burlington Central opens the season on Nov. 24 at the Sycamore Thanksgiving tournament, while Larkin opens the same night at Belvidere in the Hoops for Healing Tournament.