Jared Ebanks
Announced as Jordan Brand’s first-ever NIL signee, UCLA freshman Kiki Rice led the Bruins to their first Sweet 16 in five years on Saturday before eventually falling to the Championship favorites South Carolina Gamecocks. With viewership higher than ever during the women’s tournament, Jumpman leaped at the opportunity to debut their latest game shoe via the feet of their first endorsed student-athlete.
Giving the Air Jordan 38 its first official break-in on the court, Rice enjoyed the inaugural honor rocking a simplistic white/black/red pair straight from the tunnel. Dipping its vamp, quarter and tongue construction in crisp white, jet-black perforated fabrics envelop the sidewalls while seldom grey and red tones illuminate the sole unit underfoot. Dressed with a synonymous ice-white tread, the Jumpman logo stands prominently atop the tongue tab. Previewed via brkicks during the matchup, Rice joins an elite roster of women’s hoopers suiting up in the brand’s latest toolings and technology while it remains to be seen if the reigning Gatorade High School Player of the Year will begin to receive Player Exclusives similar to Satou Sabally’s Air Jordan 37.
While we await the Air Jordan 38’s expected release in a myriad of colorways this holiday season, in the meantime enjoy a first look at the silhouette below from Rice’s debut in the Sweet 16.
For more from underneath the Beaverton-based brand’s banner, the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Olive” releases on April 26th in women’s, toddler and grade school sizing.
Photos: brkicks and kicksdong
