10 years is a long time in sneaker years. But that’s how long it’s been since Jordan Brand last rolled out a low-top Air Jordan 11 dressed in University Blue, the shade tied forever to Michael Jordan and his days at the University of North Carolina. In April 2026, the wait ends. And yeah, it feels a bit like bumping into an old classmate who somehow hasn’t aged.
Official product images surfaced via JD Sports UK, and the first impression is familiar in the best way. White leather up top. Glossy University Blue patent leather wrapping the mudguard. That icy translucent outsole that still looks clean even when it’s not. If you owned the 2017 pair, you’ll feel right at home. The shape, the balance, the color blocking. All there.
There is one detail worth slowing down for. Flip the shoe over and peek inside. Instead of a Jumpman on the insole, you get Nike Air branding, a quiet callback to the original Air Jordan 11 run from 1996. It’s a small change, but sneakerheads know those matter. It’s the sort of tweak that says someone at Jordan Brand paid attention.
Fun fact for the newer crowd. The UNC colorway wasn’t part of the Air Jordan 11’s original lineup. It first showed up in 2001 under the White/Columbia Blue name, alongside a mix of lows that included Varsity Red, Citrus, Metallic Silver, and even a snakeskin pair. Wild times.
While the Air Jordan 11 doesn’t dominate the hype cycle like it did in the 2010s, it still moves numbers. Holiday drops used to prop up earnings for Nike, Inc., and the 2025 Gamma release reportedly landed as the second-biggest release day ever on StockX. Not bad for a silhouette people keep calling “played out.”
The Air Jordan 11 Retro Low University Blue lands April 18, 2026, in full-family sizing. Kids, teens, adults. Everyone eats. Retail is set at $190, style code FV5104-100. If you’re planning spring fits already, this one makes the shortlist fast.
RELATED: The Top 11 Air Jordan 11 Colorways That Stay Classic No Matter the Year
