Bloomfield boys basketball player Lake McLean debuts clothing line ‘New Apollo’ at state championship
There was a new and fresh look to the Bloomfield boys’ basketball team Sunday prior to being crowned state champion.
Senior Lake McLean launched his personal clothing brand, “New Apollo” at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Warhawks debuted the senior’s clothing line in warm-up lines prior to Bloomfield’s 58-54 Division IV championship win tilt over Granby. The black t-shirts read “New Apollo” in large font across the shirt.
“I wanted to use my teammates as ambassadors for it,” McLean said. “I wanted to come out like this with it being my senior year.”
McLean had an interest in the fashion and design industry since he was young, most of that interest coming during his modeling career. He modeled for a handful of local brands before deciding to begin a fashion line of his own.
After his modeling career, he decided he would give fashion design a chance and start his own. He hopes to continue his love for basketball and fashion design in college. He has yet to make his college decision.
“Modeling and basketball are together for me,” McLean said. “They are both my dreams.”
With name, image, and likeness emerging on the college level, ideas such as “New Apollo” can become realities for college and high school athletes. McLean is unsure whether he will continue his basketball career at the collegiate level.
McLean added that the inspiration of the brand’s name stems from his family. McLean’s godson’s name is Apollo and he used the name to launch this new opportunity.
As for what’s next in terms of where to find the brand as well as new lines of clothing, McLean says all those details are coming soon. His next hope is to try to integrate his clothing designs into some of the spring sports at Bloomfield. One sport that came to mind for him was track and field.
McClean played a role in helping Bloomfield capture its first state championship since 2008. In the final game of his high school career, he scored four points while adding eight rebounds and two assists.
Prior to Sunday, he propelled Bloomfield into the title game at Mohegan Sun Arena with major performances, including a 30-point effort in the Warhawks’ quarterfinal win against Branford.
After what was a successful debut, McLean now has a new motto to back up his ever-expanding dream.
“From now on, it’s a championship brand,” McLean said. “If you have the brand, then you’re winning.”