DeMarre Carroll hasn’t forgotten his brother.
He has a likeness of his older sibling tattooed on his arm above the inscription “RIP Delonte.” The lasting impression goes far beyond ink for the child who passed away from a brain tumor at the age 9. The Hawks forward was just 6 at the time but he remembers what was important to his brother.
“He always had his outfits ironed and ready for school,” Carroll said. “It just showed that he took clothes important. But not just clothes, he took ownership to get himself together and let everyone see him represent our family.”
In part a tribute to his brother, Carroll has started a clothing store. The venture is called HypEZ. It is currently an online business but a Buckhead storefront on Piedmont Avenue is well in the works. Carroll currently sells items from a variety of vendors but aims one day to have his own clothing line.
“My oldest brother liked clothes and he would dress a lot,” Carroll said. “My mom is a big dresser. I always told myself I would open a store in remembrance of him and just to show people that parents should teach their children how to dress at an early age.”
According to the HypEZ website: “We are not your typical clothing store, we are here to promote positivity and show each person the individual power bestowed in them. Our motto is, ‘If you look good, then you feel good.’”
Carroll often wears clothing from his line when dressing out after Hawks games. While Carroll said teammates Mike Scott, Shelvin Mack and Paul Millsap have expressed interest in the clothing line, Dennis Schroder gets to raid the closet.
“Oh yeah, I let Dennis come over,” Carroll said. “He’s kind of like my little brother. He gets a little bit of it.”
Carroll said his fiancee plays a major role in the operation. They also have a line of children’s clothes in honor of their daughter Lailah.
Carroll sees the clothing operation as a post-career venture as well, although there are many other things he wants to accomplish. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development at Missouri. He plans to finish his master’s in human development and family studies.
And then there is coaching. It’s in his blood, after all.
Carroll played for his uncle, Mike Anderson, at Missouri. He said the two speak almost daily. Perhaps, one day when his playing career is over, the two can share a bench.
“Every NBA player, you come in for five or six hours a day and work on your game,” Carroll said. “After that, you really don’t have much to do but sit on your butt. I believe in education and trying to find things outside basketball to do. Clothing has been one. I going to go back and get the rest of my master’s. I don’t want to be one of those guys post-career just sitting on my butt.”
No matter where his post-playing career takes him, clothing will be a part of Carroll’s life. It’s his connection with the past and the future.
“Clothing is always going to be big in my heart,” he said. “After my career is over, I want to do clothing. … Clothing is a fun hobby but at the same time, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
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