Air Jordan 9 to Release in "University Blue"

2020 has been a quiet year for the Air Jordan 9, but Jordan Brand is giving it a moment in the holiday spotlight by prepping a “University Blue” colorway. The “University Blue” is only the second AJ9 to release in 2020 — January’s Air Jordan 9 “Racer Blue” was the first — and it uses the signature light blue shade of Michael Jordan‘s alma mater, the UNC Tar Heels, to offer a clean and simple collegiate style.

High-cut uppers are built of crisp white leather, quickly offset by a sparkling black synthetic on the mudguard, heel and collar. Black laces sit atop a white tongue, and black midsoles/white outsoles add further to the yin and yang of tones. “University Blue” is relegated to the branded accents: it’s most noticeable on the heel’s #23 graphic and rubberized badge, but also appears on the fabric tongue tag and duo of Jumpman hits that grace the lateral side of the midsole and the outsole’s heel. This colorblocking scheme is sure to be inherently familiar to Air Jordan heads, as it debuted on the OG Air Jordan 9 “Space Jam,” a shoe that last released in 2016.

The Air Jordan 9 “University Blue” has been reported to release via Nike SNKRS and retailers like Foot Locker come December 5, though this has yet to be confirmed by Nike. MSRP will likely be set at $190 USD.

For more from the Jumpman, get a detailed look at the Air Jordan 4 “Fire Red” ahead of its Black Friday release.