The 20 Greatest Sneakers in Kentucky Basketball History

UNC...check. 'Cuse...check. 'Zona...check. Complex is on a world tour hitting up your favorite campuses and taking a look back through their elite sneaker history. This week we take it to Lexington, Kentucky and the No. 1 Wildcats's movement with Converse as well as some models from The Swoosh that you likely laced up on the hardwood. From Sam Bowie, Jamal Mashburn, Antonie Walker, and John Wall we got some of the greatest and latest 'Cats who reppin' Kentucky right. Click on our gallery to check out The 20 Greatest Sneakers in Kentucky Basketball History.

When: 1966

Who: Louie Dampier

Without these shoes, who knows where the sneaker game would be? Nothing says classics like Chucks, which were a staple on every teams' feet prior to the '80s. And yes, that Kentucky/Duke rivalry has got some history.

When: 2001

Who: Tayshaun Prince

Tayshaun was the prototype wingman for the new century and the Nike BB4s were a futuristic movement by Nike. The first basketball shoe to feature the all-new Shox cushion technology (BB4 simply stood for basketball and four Shox columns) and the shoes popularity took off like Vince Carter over 7-footers. Boing.

When: 2005

Who: Rajon Rondo

The Zoom Air unit was perfect for speedy guards to burn up and down the court or get off the floor with ease — players like Kentucky PG Rajon Rondo or the shoes's signature spokesman, Kobe. The Huarache outsole always gets style points and the mixed use of leathers on the upper made them durable. Stay strapped.

When: 1982

Who: Sam Bowie

Just like the Chuck Taylor All Stars, the Pro Leathers started on the court and quickly became a must in every guy's wardrobe paired with jeans and a clean shirt. Before Sam Bowie became the best-known whiff in NBA Draft history, he was posting up in his Pro Leathers — at least he made one positive basketball list.

When: 1995

Who: Tony Delk

The 'Cats were running crazy in the mid-90s and although names like Antoine Walker and Derek Anderson might be more memorable they definitely weren't getting it done without Tony Delk. The floor general had a pretty ill variety of sneaks with a mix of The Star and The Swoosh. In 1995 any respecting point guard made sure they broke a few ankles in the Air Max Penny takedown Air Way Up.

When: 2005

Who: Erik Daniels

The retro of these Japanese flag inspired Jordans dropped in Janurary of 2004, shortly after Mike left the Wizards — Erik Daniels copped a pair for battle in Lexington. The French Blue colorway is one one the better non-Bulls colorways to drop, and the XIIs worked just fine for a 6-8 big like Daniels.

When: 1987

Who: Rex Chapman

An in-state Kentucky boy, Rex Chapman was the pride of the Wildcats when he signed his letter of intent and while he was dropping 1,000-plus points in his short two-season stay at UK he did it in style. The Air Force IIs were another make up Nike put together with multiple colorways in mind to appeal to the team aspect of the sneaker business. We've seen these drop again a few years ago with a more skate-style influence, we really need Nike to bring '87 back with these.

When: 1997

Who: Ron Mercer

Mercer came into Lexington with high expectations. Fresh from Oak Hill Academy, he was rated the number one prep in the country over a few names you may have heard of — Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, Stephon Marbury, and Antwan Jamison. He held it down playings his part for the National Championship team his freshman year and he did it in the Chuck Taylor 2000s, a leather update on the classic patched canvas hightops. What comes around, goes around.

When: 2011

Who: Darius Miller

You know the always trill Jordan holiday releases weren't going to stop Miller from getting his for the hardwood. The classic "Cool Grey" XIs are one of the cleanest Jordan colorways of all-time and arguably one of Nike/Jordan Brands best concepts for a continued series of shoes.

When: 1996

Who: Anthony Epps

Made for the then National Champs, the Converse Hall of Fame 1996s are one of the greatest remixes of the timeless All-Stars — and one of the few shoes made with a specific college program in mind.

When: 2011

Who: Darius Miller

If it wasn't for the knee injuries, Penny's sneaker line might have given Mike's a run for his money. Each shoe was building off the previous ones — and Penny's first four kicks definitely put the fade to LeBron's first four. This past year Darius Miller broke out the classic white and royal joints with the impossible-to-miss Foamposite wings. Zoom up front, Max in the back — there is no better.

When: 1996

Who: Antoine Walker

React At Work — exactly what these R.A.W. joints helped Antoine Walker and the Wildcats do as they pushed to the '96 NCAA title. The React Juice technology is what made these sneakers move and were most remembered on the feet of Kevin Johnson during his All-Star career in the desert. That particular Star logo from the '90s was classic, too.

When: 1989

Who: LeRon Ellis

In 1989, dropping $100+ on a sneaker wasn't an everyday thing, but oh what shoes you could get. The Air Flight 89 High was as high-tech as a hightop got, the colorways were sick and the design is the epitome of Nike pushing through to the '90s. LeRon Ellis took to court with these, and although his game looked NBA ready he didn't quite live up to expectations in the league.

When: 2011

Who: Terrence Jones

You know Bron-Bron backs the 'Cats, and when the 2011 All-Star game colorways dropped it wasn't going to be long before someone from UK broke out the Kentucky Blue colorway for war. Terrence Jones, step right up.

When: 1991

Who: Jamal Mashburn

Converse was really trying to sell these as being the Nike Air killer when its new technology system dropped in 1988 — we all know how that went. That said, the Energy Wave was worn by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (and Bill Laimbeer) among others in the League. Jamal Mashburn hooped up in the Energy Waves during time bid in Lexington before joining the League himself. Where he wore, um, Fila.

When: 2010

Who: Terrence Jones

The Flywire technology was in full effect helping Kobe's fifth signature shoe shed a little more weight and college players unconcerned with tweaking ankle rocked them in numerous colorways throughout the season. Calipari prized recruit, Terrence Jones broke out the futbol-looking kicks for UK during is rookie run helping the Wildcats make a Final Four appearance.

When: 2010

Who: John Wall

LeBron may be from Ohio but throughout his time in the spotlight he hasn't exactly been shy about the out-of-state love he shows. Yeah OSU could have easily have been his home if did enroll versus enlist — and he does lace the Buckeyes with some perks — but during John Wall's freshman campaign King James was a big fan and even hooked little homie and the squad up with some Wildcat player edition LeBron VIIs.

When: 2011

Who: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The LeBron 9s only a few months deep might already have more colorways than the Jordan Is. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but we gotta give the head nod to Nike for coming through with some dope college player editions. You knew the Wildcats were going to get set up, especially when Bron's big brother makes it out courtside for games. Glad to see them on someone as standup as Michael Gilchrist who legally threw in the Kidd to pay homage to his uncle Darrin Kidd who passed away the day Gilchrist was going to sign his letter of intent to UK. The LeBron 9s are no slouch, either.

When: 1986

Who: Kenny Walker

Be True To Your School. The Nike Dunk was the first official Nike shoe created specifically for the collegiate level (shoes like the Air Force 1 and the Dynasty just paved the way) and for particular teams. The Swoosh hooked up multiple schools with colorways, and even dorky ol' Kenny Walker (who changed his image a bit once he made the L) made 'em look good.

When: 1996

Who: Derek Anderson

Andre Agassi wasn't the only one rocking denim in the '90s. You remember the Converse Denim Blue looking uniforms right? Well, the uniforms weren't the only denim in Lexington — Converse made up some matching kicks and Kentucky greats like Derek Anderson and Antoine Walker rocked them on the way to the '96 NCAA title.