{"id":187044,"date":"2011-10-15T13:52:59","date_gmt":"2011-10-15T18:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicekicks.com\/?p=187044"},"modified":"2022-09-16T03:13:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T08:13:05","slug":"king-on-campus-the-12-best-college-kicks-from-the-lebron-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/king-on-campus-the-12-best-college-kicks-from-the-lebron-line\/","title":{"rendered":"King on Campus: The 12 Best College Kicks from the LeBron Line"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a matter of hours, the 2011-2012 basketball season will finally start. No, not the NBA; it’s the NCAA’s Midnight Madness that’s bringing hoops back to the hardwood. And while professional stars won?t be able to give us any ball to watch for some time, one has given us (and select college teams) some great kicks built for the best amateurs in the game.<\/p>\n

Nike made news this year when it announced that Miami, Ohio State and Kentucky would all be rocking LeBron-branded gear for the 2011-2012 season, but this is by no means LBJ?s first foray into student-athlete sneakers. In fact, Nike<\/strong> has a long history of dressing King James’ kicks in collegiate attire, as both Player Exclusives and university-inspired designs. So in anticipation of basketball season’s kickoff tonight, we whittled down the extensive list of LeBrons to his 12 best collegiate kicks.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Crying Fowl: 15 Oregon Ducks PEs We’d Like to Have | Hoya Heat: The Best Basketball Shoes Worn by Georgetown | Snkrs Day Picks: Top 23 LeBron James Shoes<\/p>\n

nike zoom soldier ohio state pes<\/h2>\n
Ohio State players wearing Nike Zoom Soldier PEs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Starting off our list is the first rendition of the Zoom Soldier<\/strong> line for the Buckeyes. The boys from Columbus rocked two colorways of this secondary signature, and the bold red-toed Brons were the start of a long (and still going) relationship between OSU and the Soldier line.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike air max lebron vii “akron”<\/h2>\n

\"Nike<\/p>\n

\"Nike<\/p>\n

Though not technically a true Player Exclusive (it released in limited numbers at House of Hoops), this Air Max LeBron VII<\/strong> was one of only two college-inspired makeups of the VII ever made. This colorway is always agreeable and this silhouette itself remains one of the best in LBJ?s catalog.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike zoom lebron vi “ohio state”<\/h2>\n
Evan Turner turns the corner in the Nike Zoom LeBron VI "Ohio State"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

King James often represents for his home state and its foremost university with his kicks? colorways, but this take was so literal that the Bucks didn?t need a branded PE. A 3M-wrapped midsole, bold coloring and obvious ties to Ohio State made this Zoom LeBron VI<\/strong> a sneaker even Michigan fans could like (though they’d never admit to liking).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike lebron 9 “kentucky”<\/h2>\n

\n

\n

And so begins the official relationship between UK and the King. With Calipari at the helm, 2011-2012 will see the Wildcats outfitted completely in LeBron-branded Nike gear. This colorway is presumably similar to the version players will actually wear, and will drop this weekend. Look for the Wildcats (and maybe even Ashley Judd) to rep for Bron all season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike zoom lebron vi memphis pe sample<\/h2>\n

Before John Wall was a Wildcat, John Calipari was a Tiger. Scholarly scandals and a chance to revive a legacy drew Coach C out of state, but it was this PE sample that could have been luring recruits in. Pre-dating LBJ and Calipari openly flaunted their relationship, there was this sick Zoom LeBron VI<\/strong>. And now that Kentucky will constantly rock LeBrons, expect more just like this?but wearing a U and a K?to show up all season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike zoom lebron iv oregon pe sample<\/h2>\n

The rich got richer when Nike<\/strong> worked up this sample PE for Oregon. This would have been worn around the time when the Ducks went into overdrive overhauling their uniforms, and certainly would have looked great on the court, but never made it into production. It?s pretty difficult to muster sympathy for Oregon, though, given its history of awesome PEs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike zoom lebron v ohio state PE<\/h2>\n

Not our first (or our last) OSU PE on this list, this Zoom LeBron V<\/strong> is one of the more detailed shoes to make it. Not only is it branded with school logos and dressed in school colors, Nike paid tribute to the school?s fans with the under strap ?O! H! I! O!? tribute. A very limited run made to stores, and players opted between this shoe and the Zoom Soldier II<\/strong> all season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike zoom lebron vi “akron”<\/h2>\n
Austin Linhart in the Zoom LeBron VI "Akron"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nike paid twice the tribute with this Zoom LeBron VI<\/strong>, honoring both LeBron?s hometown and the local university. The Zips have continued to see inspired colorways and did before this shoe, but the overall attention to detail here makes it the most special. Plus, it actually carried Akron to the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nike Zoom LeBron IV Ohio State PEs<\/h2>\n
David Lighty in the Zoom LeBron IV Ohio State PE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Truth be told, we?re partial to the Scarlet and Grey Zoom LeBron IV, but both the “Home” and “Away” looks definitely belong on our list. Greg Oden and crew were one of the hottest teams in the nation when they laced up these IVs, and they made it all the way to the NCAA Championship in them. Oden should probably look into lacing them up again, actually. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nike Air Max LeBron VII Kentucky PE<\/h2>\n
John Wall in the Nike Air Max LeBron VII Kentucky PE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What started with the VI came to fruition with this VII. John Wall, leading one of the most hyped recruiting classes ever, revived UK?s hoops?and its shoes?legacy when he laced up this Air Max LeBron VII<\/strong>. It saw limited on-court action and never released, which made it all the more special. To this day, it remains a grail for many collectors.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

nike lebron 9 miami pe<\/h2>\n

It hasn?t even seen on-court action yet, but already this LeBron 9<\/strong> is highly anticipated by fans and players (and maybe even select boosters). As we learned recently, players will rock this branded version, while the less athletically inclined will be able to scoop up a pair bearing LBJ?s signature. The U signed onto ?Team LeBron? as well, so expect even more heat to come out of Coral Gables later this year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nike Zoom LeBron II Oregon Ducks PEs<\/h2>\n
Malik Hairston wearing the Nike Zoom LeBron II 'Home' PE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No surprise here, but the Ducks? terrific twosome takes the top spot. Both colorways make great use of the color palette and actually match the flagship colors of the school (a rarity for Oregon these days). Hard to come by no matter your university donor status, these kicks are definitely the best collegiate King James kicks we?ve seen yet, but maybe the Akron Hammer has something up sleeve for this season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We rank the best college kicks from LeBron’s extensive Nike catalog.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":149,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618],"tags":[1203859,1225736],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKing on Campus: The 12 Best College Kicks from the LeBron Line | Snkrs Day<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Where to buy King on Campus: The 12 Best College Kicks from the LeBron Line shoes. 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