A Family Day look at one of Canada's preeminent basketball families

By: Justine Jones

Eyes on the prize

Before Duane and Marcus were playing under the bright lights of the NCAA stage, they would sit cross-legged on the floor watching Toronto Raptors guard Vince Carter. The brothers were fascinated with Carter and were decked out in full Raptors attire--jersey, headband, high socks and all. These were the first “film” sessions they can recall. Since then, the two have spent countless hours studying the game. Both have developed high basketball IQs despite different on-court playing styles.

Duane is five years older than Marcus and played a key mentorship role for his younger brother growing up. The 6-foot-2 guard considers himself a “gym rat” shown through the endless sessions perfecting his craft both on the court and in the driveway. He instilled this commitment and work ethic in Marcus.

“They never complained to me about the sacrifices they had to make. Basketball was definitely their choice; it wasn’t mine, but they just showed a love for the sport from the time they were young until now” said mother Suzette Carr. “They just keep their eye on the prize, they know what they want and they’re doing whatever they can to make sure that happens.”

Notice was the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Sixth Man of the Year at South Carolina and has dealt with adversity throughout his playing career. These experiences were pivotal to his professional development and have shaped him into a versatile player who can lead with his scoring, defence, and playmaking abilities. The last two seasons Notice has competed for the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League and spent his summers as a member of the CEBL’s Hamilton Honey Badgers. He signed a contract last Friday to return to the Honey Badgers for the 2021 season.

Carr is making a name for himself this season in the NCAA averaging 19.9 points per game for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference. He is a tremendous competitor citing that he “hates to lose more than he loves to win”. The 6-foot-2 guard is aggressive in the lane and does not shy away from contact. Carr developed this toughness from years of battling against Notice and his friends with “schoolyard rules”.

“A lot of people always ask why I don’t get hurt even though I’m taking contact and being physical. That’s definitely all Duane. Growing up getting roughed up every day in the driveway made me a more physical player” said Carr.

A family affair

While Duane and Marcus cherish their one-on-one showdowns, their brotherly bond goes beyond the basketball court. The importance of family has been instilled in them since childhood and Duane recalls how protective he was of Marcus. There are many photos where the Honey Badgers guard is holding his younger brother as a baby or has his arms wrapped around him as a toddler.

This close-knit family has played a major role in shaping the brothers into the young men they are today. Their family conveyed the importance of loyalty, honour and respect, traits that are integral to the siblings’ character.

Growing up involved in competitive sports meant that schedules were busy. However, this did not prevent them from making family a priority. Their house played host to many game nights where immediate and extended family members would partake in Dominos, Taboo, and Pictionary among others.

“Your friends may come and go but we will always have each other” said mother Suzette Carr.

In the summer, large family gatherings would occur featuring their Grandma’s famous oxtail. After the meal, the kids would escape downstairs to re-enact Michael Jordan’s famous Space Jam moments on their mini Fisher-Price net.

As the kids grew older, they transitioned from these plastic nets to full-sized basketball hoops outside. One particular memory Marcus recalls (and he jokingly apologizes to this family member in advance) is when Duane dunked on their cousin. Duane remembers one day their mother, Suzette, faced off against both her sons in a game of 21, and won. Needless to say, Duane and Marcus spent the rest of the night refining their shooting technique. These are the memories their family treasures.

Reality check

Despite these strong family ties, Duane and Marcus were not immune to typical sibling rivalries. The five-year age gap proved challenging at some points during their childhood.

“My brother was always my first idol, the first person I wanted to be like but at the same time we used to fight all the time” said the Golden Gophers guard.

Duane recalls countless times where he and Marcus would fight over video games or would complain to their mom that the other was “breathing too hard” in the car.

The brothers attended St. Michael’s College School in Toronto but like a teenager embarrassed by their parents, Duane and Marcus would walk to school separately. By this point the two had grown out of the fighting, but each brother wanted their own path. Having different last names and friend groups allowed them to develop their own identities both on and off the court.

Ironically, distance brought the two back together. Suzette still remembers the tearful day they dropped Duane off at St. Thomas More in Connecticut. Although it took much convincing, Duane realized that attending this school would benefit his basketball career and this helped pave the way for Marcus. His younger brother spent only two years at St. Michael’s College in Toronto before enrolling at Montverde Academy in Florida.

“As I got older, basketball got more serious for me and it was always serious for him. I was able to look to him as a mentor and get a lot of advice from him. It really just made my life a lot easier because he went through a lot of the stuff I was going to go through” said Marcus.

“It’s deeper than basketball”

The demands of competitive basketball have led Notice and Carr on separate adventures and thus it is rare that holidays are celebrated together. Despite this, family remains a priority as seen through their active family group chat and post-game FaceTime calls.

Decreased media availability has given Carr more time to talk with his family following games. Sometimes just fifteen minutes after the final whistle, he is already on the phone with his mom, brother, and aunt.

“I’m of the opinion that you don’t just call them when they win all the wonderful games like against Ohio State. I’m still proud of him, win or lose, I’d obviously prefer the team wins but regardless I support both of them no matter what” said Suzette.

Notice says that while most would think these post-game calls involve a full play-by-play breakdown, they sometimes only talk about basketball for five minutes. Both brothers understand the pressures of playing the game at an elite level. When they are constantly pestered with questions about their game or their career path, Notice and Carr are grateful to have the space to discuss other aspects of life with their family.

“It’s deeper than basketball” said Notice. “We have an actual relationship outside of the game. The game has obviously made us closer and it’s cool because we’re both passionate about it and have goals when it comes to basketball. But outside of that we know what’s most important and that’s each other and loyalty. Our love is unconditional.”

These post-game conversations last so long that one time, Carr’s phone battery died. Lots of laughs are had while discussing the latest viral Instagram reel, their favourite songs and the new show WandaVision. 

Road to recovery

The ongoing global pandemic has posed challenges for many, but Notice is enjoying the added family time this shutdown has afforded. He is currently recovering from an Achilles tendon tear sustained at the CEBL Summer Series in July. The return-to-play process from a major injury is gruelling but family support has uplifted his spirits. Whether that’s his younger sisters begging him to play hide-and-seek or his Grandma delivering her reassurance through Jamaican idioms, Notice is grateful for his family’s encouragement.

Carr has been able to return the favour to Notice and step into a mentorship role, having recovered from a torn ACL during his junior year of high school. He has prepared Notice for the challenges that lie ahead stating the recovery process may not always be linear.

Suzette has always preached the importance of living in the present to both Duane and Marcus. Her “72-hour rule” (whereby they are able to feel disappointed for only three days post-injury) has kept her sons optimistic and forward-focused throughout their basketball careers. Duane is two months ahead of schedule in his recovery process and plans to be back in action for the Honey Badgers this summer.

“Being in the States, a lot of your family isn’t always able to come to your games. So, playing for Hamilton and having my family come to the actual game has been a great experience for me” said Notice. “It helps my confidence and my mental sanity knowing that all the hard work I’m doing is making my family proud.”

South of the border, Carr and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are gearing up for the NCAA March Madness Tournament this spring. And although COVID-19 protocols may limit in-arena fans for the NCAA and CEBL, there is no limit to the family support Notice and Carr will receive as they chase their basketball dreams.