The 20 Greatest Sneakers in Ohio State Basketball History

Image via Complex Original

2012 marks the 120th anniversary of Buckeye basketball and there's no question that THE Ohio State University has cemented itself amongst the elite in college hoops. Consistently lurking around a top 10 ranking, a yearly threat at a Final Four berth, and birthing lottery picks for your favorite NBA squad — it's safe to say they got the game down. After picking through the great state of Michigan the last two weeks we keep it Big Ten again. Click on the gallery to check out The 20 Greatest Sneakers in Ohio State Basketball History (spoiler alert: there are a few LeBron's on here) and let us know if your favorites made our list. 

20. Nike Zoom Soldier II PE "OSU"

When: 2009

Who: Jon Diebler 

With LeBron James being the most famous Ohio athlete it was pretty cool of him to kick back to OSU — which he claims was a good possibility of being his alma mater if David Stern had forced him to go to college. When the NBA postseason hit King James looked to his playoff-crafted, Zoom-enhanced Soldiers to help lead his troops in battle. The Buckeyes approved.

19. Nike Air Flight Determination

When: 2000

Who: Scoonie Penn

Assymetrical lacing isn't just for Footscapes. 2000's lightweight Nike Air Flight Determination combined proto-Flywire reinforcement on a mostly synthetic upper with a Max Air bag in the heel to provide support for speedy point guards like Scoonie Penn.

18. Nike Zoom Huarache Elite II TB

When: 2007

Who: Mike Conley Jr. 

Part of OSU's best two-man recruiting class ever, Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. immediately helped spring Ohio State basketball to the top of the ranks. In his lone year as a Buckeye, Conley took the role as the floor general in the Huarache Elite II TB. The Elite IIs stayed true to the original Huarache concept of keeping it light, quick, and responsive on the floor — another Nike team concept shoe that earned praise for its design and performance. 

17. Nike Air Holistic Uptempo 

When: 1999

Who: Scoonie Penn

After a short stint at Boston College, Scoonie Penn transferred to greener pastures in the heart of the Midwest, taking one spot duties for a lethal Buckeyes squad. The point god broke down defenders and fed the rock to Michael Redd, taking the Big Ten Player of the Year honors and leading his team to the Final Four in one of Nike's more subtle Uptempos. The Holistics featured a Visible Air unit in the forefoot and heel and although they weren't a team shoe they were a favorite among numerous teams in the college ranks.

16. Nike Zoom Soldier IV PE "OSU"

When: 2011

Who: David Lighty 

The Zoom LeBron Soldier series has always been good to OSU, and the strapped-up, Air Max equipped IVs in red matching the OSU unis was sick. David Lighty killed it in his final win at OSU, but just like 'Bron they fell short before bringing home the hardware. Whoops.

15. Nike Zoom LeBron VI PE "OSU"

When: 2009

Who: Evan Turner 

An Air Force 1 for the Pepsi Generation, the bulletproof Zoom LeBron VI featured triple-stacked Zoom Air and an impermeable synthetic leather upper. The King got hooked up in extreme comfort and stability, and he blessed OSU with a digicamo PE worn by the likes of Evan Turner, who started bodying opponents as soon as he stepped foot on campus. 

14. Nike Air Team Max Zoom

When: 1999

Who: Michael Redd 

The Nike Air Team Max Zoom dropped in '99 when Nike was starting to release more and more team concept sneakers available in just about every Pantone  colorway. The kicks used every keyword in the Nike basketball vocab, and featured a visible Air Max unit on the heel and maximum support in the ankles. Redd broke 'em out his sophomore season en route to the Final Four (which was later vacated for NCAA violations).

13. Nike Zoom Soldier PE "OSU"

When: 2010

Who: Kosta Koufus 

LeBron's postseason shoe has always been a popular choice in Columbus — and the first was one of the best. Done up with support straps and a healthy dose of Zoom Air, the original Soldier was tough enough for a King, and light enough for his loyal subjects. 

12. Converse Pro Leather

When: 1982

Who: Clark Kellogg

Before Clark Kellogg was announcing the madness, he was creating it — the East Cleveland native took his talents to Columbus earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors. His feet draped in the Pro Leathers like Mike and Dr. J, he he proved he was worthy of donning one of Converse's greatest kicks. 

11. Nike Hyperdunk 2011

When: 2011

Who: Lenzelle Smith 

Innovation is everything, and no one does it better than the people in Beaverton, Oregon. The Flywire and Zoom Air equipped 2011's kept pushing the Hyperdunk series to be lighter, faster, more aesthetically pleasing, and on the feet of nearly every damn player in the world. 

10. Nike LeBron 8 V2 "Cool Grey"

When: 2011

Who: William Buford  

Not even the best colorway of the three LeBron 8 versions, which shows you how on-point Nike was with Bron's kicks that season. The “Cool Grey” template was undoubtedly the go-to shoe for Nike in late 2010/early 2011. The V2 saw Nike make LeBron's Air Max 360 shoe lighter and faster, keeping players safe and comfortable with their foortwear. 

9. Nike Air Flight Lite II

When: 1991

Who: Jim Jackson

Before he was a "Triple J" in Dallas, Jim Jackson was the man in Columbus, getting triple points for his J. One of the school's greatest scorers, earning First Team All American honors his last two years at OSU, the kid was holding it down in some supreme Nikes. The Air Flight Lite II was the lightest Nikes to ever drop at the time overtaking the honors from its predecessor the Flight Lite I. Scottie Pippen was Dream Teamin' in the mids while Jax and his Buckeyes took to the court in the highs.

8. Nike Zoom LeBron V PE "OSU"

When: 2008

Who: Evan Turner 

True kicks for royalty, the Zoom LeBron V didn't really watch its weight — that big metal badge on the side was purely for the swag factor. Triple-stitched for durability, the 5th edition Brons were perfect for high-flying wing Evan Turner, who'd get to the L only a draft spot below (and a couple years behind) his footwear benefactor.

7. Nike Zoom Soldier III PE "OSU"

When: 2010

Who: Evan Turner  

Another team concept shoe thanks to the 12+ colorways — the Soldier III spread from LeBron himself to elite high schools and universities. The responsive low-profile sneakers featured lockdown straps for added support and the outsole tread was inspired by the same milk crates James used to hoop in when there wasn't a rim in the neighborhood. 

6. Nike Shox BB4

When: 2003

Who: Brandon Fuss 

If you have been following us all college season, you know that the BB4 has been one of the most consistent sneakers on our lists. If the school didn't have a endorsement from someone other than The Swoosh, odds are from 2001-2003 someone on the court went with the BB4s. Vince Carter's second-greatest gift to the game was the Boing-loaded kicks that helped Nike transition through Y2K perfectly. 

5. Nike Air Bound

When: 1993

Who: Jim Jackson 

You might be scratching your head about the Nike Air Bounds, and it's understandable. The '90s were a blur when it came to Nike releases — joints that got minimal love back then trump non-signature releases today. We aren't sure how they were cookin' so much crack that decade, but the Air Bounds are a prime example that The Swoosh was untouchable during the era. The grey and red ones rocked by double J ensured optimal swag.

4. Reebok BB5600

When: 1987 

Who: Dennis Hopson

The BB5600s dropped in '86 and more than 25 years later they still reign as one of Reebok's greatest hoop shoes ever. The large branding on the side got the word out that Reebok back was pushing its way into the hardwood sneaker movement. We need a dozen new colorways of these to drop — how many letters do we have to write? 

3. Air Jordan Retro XIII "Playoffs"

When: 2011

Who: Jared Sullinger

One of only two OSU Consensus All-Americans of the past two decades (along with Evan Turner), Jared Sullinger earned that Jumpman on his feet. It's hard to argue with his choice of the Air Jordan XIII, what with its Black Cat inspired design, Zoom Air cushioning and golf-ball dimpled upper. Thing is, if you rock the black Black Cats, you need to bring home that hardware. And not just the individual kind.

2. Nike Zoom LeBron IV PE "OSU"

When: 2007

Who: Greg Oden

Besides looking like they're a good decade older than they really are, Greg Oden and LeBron James also took court in the same kicks. The similarities don't stop there — the Air Zoom LeBron IV was the shoe that got Lebron to his first NBA Finals and helped Oden lead THE Ohio State University to the national title game in his only year on the team. The sneaker featured Zoom Air technology, a Foamposite upper, a massive carbon plate, and weighed roughly a billion pounds each. No matter — they didn't seem to weigh down Oden (or Bron) any.

1. Nike LeBron 9 "Ohio State"

When: 2011

Who: William Buford 

No longer really a team exclusive after Nike decided to release their LeBron 9 school makeups and release them to the public, nonetheless the kicks are fire. The base of the shoe takes the grey and red of OSU's uniforms and blends it from front to back with Flywire and Hyperfuse. If you didn't catch these last November, we wouldn't blame you if you hit a consignment shop (or eBay) to secure a pair.