More than 30 years ago, Michael Jordan walked the halls of Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. He started on the junior varsity team as a sophomore to gain some experience, then spent the next two years on varsity. The story of Jordan from that point has been told a million different ways. He went on to win a college championship, six NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals. Not to mention all of the shoes that he sold. Jordan aligned himself with Nike out of college, and the sneaker game has never been the same.
This year, Jordan Brand, his signature line within Nike, is set to turn 30. The launch of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985 forever changed the way people looked at sneakers. To celebrate this anniversary, Jordan Brand went to Laney High to renovate the gym in time for the Fred Lynch Invitational, an annual summer tournament featuring 50 high school teams in North Carolina.
The upgrade included the floor, the lights and the trophy cases in the lobby, while Jordan's name adorns the front and side of the building. The Jumpman logo sits at center court. Here's a look, along with some reminiscing from teachers and coaches who knew the young Jordan who had to take math class just like everybody else:
