The 25 Greatest Sneakers in Arizona Basketball History

When: 2011

Who: Brendon Lavender

Last spring, the 6-5 guard broke out 2010's Jordan holiday craze. The "Cool Greys" are one of the cleanest colorways from one the greatest Jordan models of all-time. Throw in the fact that they used the ice blue sole to try and prevent yellowing with the retro drops. We're guessing the sponsors set up with a pair and he avoided this mayhem. (They don't quite match the Arizona unis, well, at all, but that's OK.)

When: 2012

Who: Nick Johnson

This isn't quite Iverson back in '96 but you knew once the holiday madness passed these would be all over the court. Nick Johnson broke out the updated icy soles and patent leather to kick things off in 2012 and 16 years later they still look official on the court — one of the greatest hoop shoes of all-time.

When: 2002

Who: Andre Iguodala

When he stepped on to the court for Midnight Madness his freshman year, the Springfield, IL native and former Mr. Basketball did it in style with his own customized sleeve draped around the Nike Zoom GP IIIs. The "Morf" shoe featured removable skins allowing the player to change the outer shell of the kicks while keeping the stability and comfort of the Zoom Air technology in the forefoot and a visible Air Sole unit on the heel. Getting your ankles broke in these sneakers was nearly impossible but Iguodala did his share of sitting people down with a quick first step on the baseline.

When: 2007

Who: J.P. Prince

Before heading to Tennessee, Prince was reppin' red and navy and enjoying the connect in Beaverton. Nice to see the "Chicago" Xs just come back but these joints are a must too. The white and red Xs had just dropped in '05, flipping the classic "Steel Grey" OG colorway with red in place of the original's black.

When: 1993

Who: Khalid Reeves

The Nike Air Force High is another gem from the early '90s that needs to substitute for one of the 30 Air Force 1 releases this year. Made famous by Suns guard Dan Majerle in the '93 Finals, these joints were pretty big on the college court as well. The cross strap (also seen on the Air Force Max CB) kept you locked in.

When: 2004

Who: Salim Stoudamire

The "Chrome" VIIIs dropped in May of 2003 and were the only Jordans to feature the cross-strap option which was taking over Nike in the early '90s. Considerably chunkier than the first seven Jordans the shoe never really received its due praise for its attention to detail. The plush Jumpman logo on the tongue, subtle accents throughout the silhouette, and durabuck upper helps the VIIIs flow together perfectly. The southpaw from Oregon, Stoudamire, must have scooped up a pair during summer break and broke them out during his NCAA-leading .504 three-point shooting season.

When: 1997

Who: Mike Bibby

As soon as he stepped on the court in AZ, McDonald's All-American point god Mike Bibby kicked things off in some of the dopest sneakers Nike had to offer. The Air Max Flights often get lost in the mix of all the ridiculous classics The Swoosh put out in the '90s. You might remember Scottie playing Mike's wingman in these, rockin' the black uniforms and slaughterhousin' folks on the way to more hardware — more jewelry. The Max Flights featured a jewel Swoosh as well as Max Air in the forefoot only — that was different.

When: 1999

Who: Jason Terry

When the original Foams dropped in 1997, Jason Terry and Bibby were all about Penny's kicks, drawn to the way they moved on the floor and Nike once again executing another great design for Hardaway. Unfortunately the strapped Penny IVs were the last pair of shoes in Anfernee's signature series due to knee issues. Someone get Terry to rock these in the digital camo colorway with his Mavs uni for old times sake.

Year: 2000

Who: Gilbert Arenas

Back when KG was still "Da Kid" and endorsing checks from Nike, his signature series moved units. In 2000 young Gil was the new man on campus and asserted himself as one of better freshmen to come through Tucson, dropping 15 a game and taking to the court in the Tuned (and Zoom) Air equipped Garnett IIIs with the classic fade upper. The shoes have since retroed, donning the name Nike Retro 3 after KG's departure from The Swoosh.

When: 2001

Who: Michael Wright

Who knows what was left behind in the Wildcats' training room but it is rumored to be the promised land for basketball sneaker die-hards. You remember these from C. Webb and the Michigan Fab Five in '93. The 180 degree visible air unit and the mid-foot strap will always go down as a classic look from Nike in the '90s. Look closer at that flick from the 2011 championship game, too — the Wildcats were on a whole other level when it came to kicks.

When: 1995

Who: Reggie Geary

One of the most popular sneakers among guards during the '95 season, the Zoom Flights were light and low to the ground thanks to the Zoom Air technology. One of the craziest designs in the Nike Basketball archives featured the "bug-eye" look on the midfoot and the carbon fiber "hubcaps" made these a must have.

When: 2001

Who: Loren Woods

A heavy recruit out of Saint Louis, Loren Woods was supposed to be the Demon Deacons' second coming of Tim Duncan. When he found those shoes too big to fill, he transferred to Arizona and held down the lane for the Wildcats. Although he was never quite the dominant big man they had hoped for, he did fill out the "Columbia" XIs quite all right. Last released in 2001, these are rumored to be dropping this winter for another hectic holiday Jordan XI release.

When: 2011

Who: Derrick Williams

It was a bit of a surprise this year when Derrick Williams decided to sign with Under Armour after being so partial to the Kobe VIs during his final season in Tucson. The VI "Chinas" were in the rotation last season featuring the snake scale pattern throughout the upper, paying homage to the Mamba himself and the metallic pewter really set these off nicely. Nikes, Under Armours — Derrick is holding his own and still throwing down sick dunks in the league.

When: 1997

Who: Jason Terry

Jason Terry may not have been hitting the court with the starting five, but an argument can easily be made that when it came to kicks on the court he was the 'Cats most valuable player from 1995-1999. During the second half of his sophomore campaign, the guard brought out his inner Jason Kidd rocking the "Bugged-out" super-traction Flight Vs. Added style points for the knee-high socks with "Cats" down the side — things rec players rocked in hopes of confusing a girl he was on the squad to get some play.

When: 2011

Who: Nick Johnson

The freshman guard has already impressed his peers, pulling out the "Olympic" VIIs early in the Wildcats season. You know, the ones Mike rocked when "The Dream Team" abused the competition by an average of 43.8 points a night — yeah, they played solid. We're not sure if these are the ones from his personal collection in high school from 2010 or if the diaper dandy already got a pair from JB early for 2012. Either way, impressive.

When: 1999

Who: Jason Terry

The Fomaposite Pro "Pearls" were clean and are still one of the best Foam releases to date for Nike. No surprise that you would catch Jason Terry ballin' in them, keepin' his rep for displaying flash with his game and attire — staying true to his school via the knee-highs all four years too. When can we expect a Jason Terry sock raising ceremony at the McKale Center?

When: 1997

Who: Miles Simon

The 'Cats just worked the odds beating three number-one seeds on their way to a national title, spent the summer in Australia eating McDonald's and running foreign squads, and then came back in the fall returning all five starters and Jason Terry. If you wear the crown you have to hold it down. Miles Simon, who was last seen in Uptempo '97s for the Final Four converted to a "Blank Panther" and ran with the king. The Jordan XIIIs were one of the craziest concept designs to date for the Jumpman team.

When: 1997

Who: Miles Simon

The 1997 Arizona title run will possibly go down in history as one of the trillest feats in college basketball tournament history. The Fianl Four's Most Outstanding Player, Miles Simon, put in work in the Uptempo '97s which were a favorite of many guards in the league as well as the man Jesus Shuttlesworth. The support of the full-length Air unit combined with the durable midcut helped Simon solidify himself as one cool cat and the Lute Olsen's squad cut down the nets.

When: 2011

Who: Josiah Turner

Freshmen at 'Zona really are proper with their sneaker game before they even learn the offense. This year Turner brought out his personal red pair from the "Toro Bravo" V Pack and rocked them in front of 14,500 at the McKale Center. The blood suede upper and the reflective 3M tongue — you know these rank high with us.

When: 1997

Who: Bennett Davison

Part of the national title team of '97, Bennett Davison broke out the Penny IIs before the starting five and Jason Terry got hooked up with the OG Foams before Anfernee himself. One of the best signature kicks of all-time thanks to the soft as pillow Zoom Air forefoot and Air Max heel. Not confirmed, but we are confident Davison got T'd up for that one.

When: 2001

Who: Gilbert Arenas

One of Nike’s most popular shoes, the Nike Air Trainer SC, got some love on the court as well. The shoe was known as Bo Jackson’s model and was initially released in the late ’80s. Never one to do the expected, Gilbert Arenas pulled them out for Arizona’s second Final Four run in five years. Gilbert knows.

When: 2001

Who: Jason Gardner

While his teammates were channeling guys like Barkley and Jordan, Jason Gardner went all Mac Attack and rocked the OG colorway Nike Air Trainer 1 against Duke in the National Title game. The 'Cats feel short by 10, but Gardner went to battle in the "Chlorophylls" — one of the greatest trainers in Nike history. Respect.

When: 1999

Who: Richard Jefferson

Shortly after Mike retired...again, Nike made a big push to up its technology and truly move their performance sneakers into 2K mode. Streetball's popularity was at an all-time high and some genius in marketing came up with the concept for one of the dopest shoe commercials of all-time which featured the Flightposites (J. Will we see you). Arizona being Arizona, they had a few connects at Nike HQ and hooked up the Pac-10's finest, Richard Jefferson with an exclusive pair (check the red bottoms) on his way to shredding Pac-10 opponents.

When: 1997

Who: Mike Bibby

You would think knocking three No. 1 seeds off in a tournament would be enough, but Mike Bibby had to do it in style. Bibby rocking the Air Foamposite Ones had the sneakerheads in a frenzy. At the time, no one had ever seen them, and even Penny hadn't worn them yet. Miles Simon even confirmed for us that Nike had sent them over for the starting five and Jason Terry to try out. Come on homie, they major.

When: 2001

Who: Eugene Edgerson

No doubt AF1s are better known than the Air Force IIIs, but the IIIs are more suitable to actually ball in. One day in the Arizona equipment room Eugene Edgerson stumbled across a brand-new pair of Sean Elliott’s old kicks and started rocking them (can someone from 'Zona rock the fro for Edgerson?) on the reg during his second Final Four run. The AF1 III remains an under-the-radar silo on and off the court today — and wearing a 13-year old pair to play high-level D1 ball in? King.