{"id":246226,"date":"2012-11-10T23:09:56","date_gmt":"2012-11-11T05:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicekicks.com\/?p=246226"},"modified":"2022-09-16T11:26:54","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T16:26:54","slug":"the-10-most-impactful-sneaker-statements-made-in-college-basketball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/the-10-most-impactful-sneaker-statements-made-in-college-basketball\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Most Impactful Sneaker Statements Made In College Basketball"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collegiate athletes do not have signature lines. They do not have the luxury of sitting in meeting and design rooms to produce a shoe to their exact specifications. However, gone are the days that every player on an amateur squad rocks matching kicks. While it is all about the name on the front of the jersey and not the back, players express themselves as individuals via their sneaker choice. Basketball sneakers have gone through a major evolution over the last 20 years, so as the college basketball season tips off, we recall The 10 Most Impactful Sneaker Statements Made In College Basketball<\/strong> during the last two decades.<\/p>\n

Grant Hill Rocks the Nike Air Unlimited<\/h2>\n

Before every star left after one year, before he had some of the illest Fila models to date, and before being named an NBA All-Star in his rookie campaign, Grant Hill<\/strong> dominated college hardwoods for the Duke Bluedevils. Duke was regarded as a fairly buttoned up program, but the senior went against the grain when he broke out the edgy Nike Air Unlimited in 1994. Though his team came up one game short of his third NCAA championship, rocking unorthodox kicks that didn’t match his uniforms made this a season to remember for more than one reason.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“The Untouchables” Bring Denim to the Court<\/h2>\n

The 1995-96 Kentucky Wildcat Men’s basketball team is considered one of the greatest collegiate teams ever assembled. Nicknamed “The Untouchables”, their team was stocked with 10 NBA players (7 of them first round picks), and won the 1996 National Championship going 34-2 with a 24.3 average margin of victory. All of that made it easier for the devoted Big Blue Nation to accept the teams deviation from the customary hue into faded denim uniforms. During that historic season, Converse<\/strong> also laced the ‘Cats with?Converse Cons Blu<\/strong> that featured matching denim. Surprisingly, the success of the team caused the merchandise to fly off shelf at the time.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mike Bibby Wins National Championship in Royal Blue Foams<\/h2>\n

Nike Air Foamposite<\/a>?are all the rage now, but before they peaked in popularity, a University of Arizona freshman point guard named?Mike Bibby<\/strong>?set the basketball world on fire when he rocked the OG?Nike Air Foamposite Neon Royal<\/strong>?in the 1997 National Championship game. Not only did the shoe standout due to its bright color, but back then playing ball in such an expensive pair of sneakers was unheard of, especially for a college kid. Though Miles Simon came away with Most Outstanding Player award, Bibby made an?indelible?mark in the minds of college and sneaker fans alike with his sneaker choice that day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Oregon is blessed with LeBron PEs<\/h2>\n

The University of Oregon athletic program is the source of both intrigue and jealousy. The endless amount of uniforms and special makeups of our favorite kicks always leaves fans (and foes) asking, “What will they wear next?” Malik Hairston (pictured above) and company solidified just how lavish the Duck lifestyle is by rocking the Nike LeBron 2 Oregon PE<\/strong> on court in 2005. This was the first college PE in the LeBron signature line, but it set off a growing trend. Since, we have seen college make ups for Akron University, Ohio State, Kentucky, University of Miami, and have extended to high schools, such as St. Vincent St. Mary’s and Christ the King.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fab Five Shows Unity In The Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/h2>\n

The Fab Five were more than five talented freshmen playing at unprecedented heights. They were a force of nature. When the 5-man wrecking crew stepped on the court in the innovative Nike Air Flight Huarache in 1992, the sneaker became an instant classic. With a cut out ankle, visible neoprene lining, and missing Swoosh branding, the shoe, like the Fab Five, was unlike anything before it. The entire nation’s eyes were fixed on the fabulous 18-years as they took the Wolverines and their Huaraches to the brink of the 1992 National Championship.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Longhorn Pride Runs Deep<\/h2>\n

Kevin Durant<\/strong>‘s one year at University of Texas rivals the career of most. His jersey hangs in the rafters with only two other Longhorn basketball players. On December 17, 2011, the amount of love KD has for the 40 Acres was on full display when UT took the court in all new grey uniforms and the newly released Nike Zoom KD IV “Nerf”. By newly released, I mean they came out that very day. If that wasn’t enough, the Longhorn team debuted a “Texas” colorway just 21 days later against Oklahoma State. The burnt orange shoes feature the vaunted Longhorn emblem, but are loved by non-Longhorn backers just the same.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Family Over Everything<\/h2>\n

Not many of us are faced with the dilemma of a shoe sponsor battle, but when your father is Michael Jordan and your school is sponsored by adidas, there are decisions to be made.?Marcus Jordan<\/strong>?decided to stay loyal to the family name, and played his first collegiate basketball game for the adidas sponsored University of Central Florida in a pair of Air Jordan 12 “Rising Sun” in 2009. The game was merely an exhibition, but it was enough of a statement to cause the 3-Stripes to immediately end their endorsement of the athletic program. If you look closely at the picture above, you can Jordan still has on adidas ankle braces under his sneakers. Central Florida’s athletics are now sponsored by Nike.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Coaches Make A Fashion Statement<\/h2>\n

Sneakers being worn with a suit is a look seen on red carpets and in tabloids everywhere. However, eyes were drawn to the sidelines in 2004 when college coaches put away the fancy hard bottoms and laced up sneakers with their suits. The initiative is a joint effort between Coaches vs. Cancer, The American Cancer Society, and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), and is meant to emphasize the importance of physical activity in reducing the chance of cancer. The annual weekend is in its 10th year, and is now?implemented?by high school coaches as well. There are galas and weekend long events held in?conjunction?with the special weekend with proceeds?benefiting?the Coaches vs. Cancer program.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fab Five Strikes Again With Black Shoes And Black Socks<\/h2>\n

In their second year together, the Fab Five was on a mission. They had tasted victory, but came up short in the championship game the year prior. A year older, a year better, and a year edgier caused the young men to rock the all black Nike Air Force Max during the 1992-93 season. An extra menacing element was added when they decided on black socks, as well. The move was criticized by basketball purists, but loved by ball players across the globe. The team made it back to the National Championship game that season, and cemented their imprint on basketball that will last forever.?Michael Jordan<\/strong>?and the Chicago Bulls even wore black shoes and black socks as they made their way through the 1996 NBA Playoffs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Think Pink<\/h2>\n

Kay Yow<\/strong> was a Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach, and an ambassador for breast cancer awareness. Unfortunately, she passed away from the disease on January 24, 2009, but her legacy lives on through Nike’s “Think Pink” campaign. After her passing, the team played in the inaugural “Hoops for Hope” game where both teams wore pink uniforms and Nike Hyperdunk “Think Pink”. The initiative has blossomed into a full weekend where dozens of teams across the country dress in pink uniforms and pink sneakers to honor Yow, and increase breast cancer awareness. In fact, Nikes draped completely in pink and featuring the Kay Yow Breast Cancer Awareness symbol have become some of the most popular colorways of their respective models. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund<\/strong>, in partnership with The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The Jimmy V Foundation<\/strong>, has raised over $7 million to date, and the Play4Kay<\/strong> initiative (formerly known as the WBCA Pink Zone) has raised over $2 million since its inception in 2007. Be sure to tune in to women’s college basketball from February 8-18 when the 2013 Play4Kay games are scheduled to be played.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 10 Most Impactful Sneaker Statements Made In College Basketball In The Last 20 Years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4653,"featured_media":247384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1225464,1225574,1224791,1225493],"tags":[1212202,1206090,1225586,859404,1225494,1203778],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 10 Most Impactful Sneaker Statements Made In College Basketball | Snkrs Day<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Where to buy The 10 Most Impactful Sneaker Statements Made In College Basketball shoes. 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