UH coach Kelvin Sampson said the Jordan Brand deal will make an impact on recruitingGETTY IMAGES
The Univ. of Houston will "make Jordan Brand the new apparel and shoe provider for the men's basketball team" starting with the '18-19 school year, making UH the "only school in the state of Texas to have a deal with Nike's premium brand," according to Joseph Duarte of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. UH "joins a small fraternity of college men's basketball programs to wear the Jordan Brand, among them North Carolina, Michigan, Georgetown, Oklahoma, Florida and Marquette." As part of Friday's announcement, each player "received a pair of Air Jordan 9 Retro." The timing of the deal coincides with "one of the program's best seasons in decades and the scheduled opening" of the $60M Fertitta Center later this year. UH coach Kelvin Sampson said that an association with Jordan Brand will "make an impact when it comes to recruiting." After the UH deal, Jordan Brand "now has a presence" within in six D-I conferences -- the AAC, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and SEC (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/7).
