For the first time since their original release back in 2002 when Michael Jordan wore them as a Washington Wizard, the ‘University Blue’ Air Jordan 17 lows, otherwise known as the UNC or ‘Carolina Blue’ lows, will be making a comeback, at a retail price of $300 USD. If that price sounds like a lot more than it was back in the day, well, it is. It’s twice as much to be exact, as they originally retailed for $150.

pic via ‘gc911’ (IG)

Nike.com officially described the Air Jordan 17 as “designed by Wilson Smith III, to capture MJ’s mid-air wizardry and ability to improvise in flight, the AJ 17’s design drew from the improvisational nature of jazz. Inspired by the improvisatory flow of jazz, Smith relied on flowing lines as a primary element of the AJ 17 and accented the shoe with music notes on the lace caps. To match performance with style, the shoes came equipped with a Zoom Air bag in the heel, along with a full-length shank plate and a TPU heel stabilizer…The innovative package system reflected the shoe’s immersive commitment to its inspiration, presenting the AJ17 in a metal briefcase befitting a traveling jazzman…”

Unlike the original release, which did not come with the metal briefcase, that was reserved for the 17 mids only, the lows will include the briefcase this time around.

Copping a pair? Let us know here at NikeTalk’s AJ 17 Low thread: Jordan XVII Low University Blue

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Oct 3, 2024 #1

thekillerj23

Got for $460 after fees smh, i hate myself and jb, love the shoe tho!

Oct 9, 2024 #2

mrsurfboardb_

Looking for a size 11 but don’t wanna pay 500$ 🤦🏽‍♂️

Oct 9, 2024 #3

nikekid6

thekillerj23 said:

Got for $460 after fees smh, i hate myself and jb, love the shoe tho!

Bruh… you done sold me on pulling the trigger

Oct 16, 2024 #4

Sim23

Totally forgot I had a bid on SX for $325. Was thinking there were plenty of higher bids ahead of me and the shoe wasn’t moving quickly, so that bid would be a reminder for me to check prices. Whelp today that bid was the highest bid and got accepted 😅. Been an expensive sneaker month, but will be happy to have these in the collection.

Oct 16, 2024 #5

jordanhead718212

That's a steal

Oct 16, 2024 #6

carolinakickg

Sim23 said:

Totally forgot I had a bid on SX for $325. Was thinking there were plenty of higher bids ahead of me and the shoe wasn’t moving quickly, so that bid would be a reminder for me to check prices. Whelp today that bid was the highest bid and got accepted 😅. Been an expensive sneaker month, but will be happy to have these in the collection.

Wow

What size? Gotta be a smaller one right?

Oct 16, 2024 #7

Sim23

carolinakickg said:

Wow

What size? Gotta be a smaller one right?

Oct 16, 2024 #8

Kierris

Gonna put a $350 bid in on the lightnings.

Oct 17, 2024 #9

mrsurfboardb_

Pulled the trigger price was steep ! 😬 got express shipping, but I don’t have to worry about folks flaking out taking forever to ship most definitely a sneaker I wanted this year.

Oct 20, 2024 #10

mrsurfboardb_

Finally arrived happy to add these to the rotation one of the 2 sneakers I wanted the most this year. Can’t wait for JB to drop the red and white or college blue pair.

Oct 26, 2024 #11

thekillerj23

Rocked outside officially, shoe of year for me
But hate the price point

Nov 8, 2024 #12

jblay9

Pulled out my OG college blues and the plastic is sweating/greasy as well as the lace locks. Any way to stop the plastic from doing this?

Nov 10, 2024 #13

supremex762

jblay9 said:

Pulled out my OG college blues and the plastic is sweating/greasy as well as the lace locks. Any way to stop the plastic from doing this?

It’s over bro, just make use of the suitcase and enjoy the cd if you still have them.

Mar 16, 2025 #14

TheEnricoG

Sizing consensus?
What other jordans do these feel like?

Mar 16, 2025 #15

JRepp23

jblay9 said:

Pulled out my OG college blues and the plastic is sweating/greasy as well as the lace locks. Any way to stop the plastic from doing this?

Unfortunately they are cooked. If you wipe off the greasy film, it will accelerate the cracking process. Its some sort of oxidation process and you cant really avoid it, at least on originals. I went through this on some 1994 WC 3 s also. Some more recent retros have the problems as well. When you start seeing the white or greasy film, its the beginning of the end.

Mar 16, 2025 #16

mrsurfboardb_

TheEnricoG said:

Sizing consensus?
What other jordans do these feel like?

Maybe Jordan 9s or 10s 🤷🏽‍♂️ the more you wear they’ll break in tho

Mar 17, 2025 #17

3900stabler

Supporter

Would love to see the UNC color way in a mid.

Mar 17, 2025 #18

kn0wledgeable

thekillerj23 said:

Got for $460 after fees smh, i hate myself and jb, love the shoe tho!

Always thought the all black joints were fire. Need those

Mar 17, 2025 #19

Dr.BlasterCombo

kn0wledgeable said:

Always thought the all black joints were fire. Need those

They’re all nice looking shoes. Stiff as all get but great design

May 25, 2025 #20

thekillerj23

Took it all the way back to 2000’s with the Melo jersey jeans 😂

May 25, 2025 #21

nikekid6

Ughh I need these. But prices are insane

Jun 15, 2025 #22

mrsurfboardb_

Happy Father’s Day to all my NT fams out there stay blessed 🙏🏽

Aug 20, 2025 #23

canthony15

How do you guys feel these run? I got a 13 unc and I just don’t know. They fit but at the same time they seem big. I want to buy lightnings but the sizing has me thrown off. (I usually buy 12 in everything but 12.5 probably my true size. Have a few size 13s

Any insight is appreciated

Aug 20, 2025 #24

Kierris

Your true size is 12.5 but you usually wear size 12 and you bought these in size 13🧐

Aug 20, 2025 #25

canthony15

Kierris said:

Your true size is 12.5 but you usually wear size 12 and you bought these in size 13🧐

Yea. 12.5 is too hard to come by in stores for most releases so I go 12 almost all the time. And I thought these would run small so I went 13 in unc pair. Plus I got a great deal so figured why not try

Oct 3, 2025 #26

supremex762

University blue >>>> Infinite Archives

Apr 17, 2026 #27

drewswish

random undefeated restock

Apr 17, 2026 #28

axelfoley5

jealous. that restock was so random. wish I'd have grabbed

Jun 2, 2026 #29

c flyness

i-img900x1200-1717051281dd0ueg19992~2.jpg

Jun 4, 2026 #30

3900stabler

Supporter

Need those revolutions in the corner to release again. Long over due.

Oct 3, 2024 #1

thekillerj23

Got for $460 after fees smh, i hate myself and jb, love the shoe tho!

Sep 4, 2024 #2

I Am Si Guy

Delivered from Private today. The packaging is ridiculous. Like 5 steps to get them out of the box like the last Space Jam XI release. Overall very nice.

Oct 26, 2024 #3

thekillerj23

Rocked outside officially, shoe of year for me
But hate the price point

Sep 13, 2024 #4

boutmymoney333

My stock X ordered got cancelled due to the seller not shipping so I put in an order for CHEAPER when @Mr Dink posted prices dipping last Thursday on GOAT. Week later and they were at my doorstep. @Mr Dink Good Looks!

Just need the college blue and white/red Mids to drop and I’m good

Jun 15, 2025 #5

mrsurfboardb_

Happy Father’s Day to all my NT fams out there stay blessed 🙏🏽

Aug 29, 2024 #6

Brosizzlew30.23

Boom!

Aug 29, 2024 #7

shawndavinci

Sep 5, 2024 #8

DVF1977

Oct 20, 2024 #9

mrsurfboardb_

Finally arrived happy to add these to the rotation one of the 2 sneakers I wanted the most this year. Can’t wait for JB to drop the red and white or college blue pair.

Aug 28, 2024 #10

shawndavinci

Only pic I could find of me rocking the OGs.

These really my favorite shoe, shame they doing em like this.

Aug 28, 2024 #11

2potroast3

The back door was definitely open on this release, secured my pair from a homeboy at one of the spots that had them here…..he wanted less than $100 on top

Oct 3, 2025 #12

supremex762

University blue >>>> Infinite Archives

Aug 26, 2024 #13

greenbean formerly pleasesaythebaby23

NToweG said:

JB trippin. They need to replace that yellow with red on a pair.

Aug 17, 2024 #14

mrsurfboardb_

Aug 17, 2024 #15

mrsurfboardb_

Aug 23, 2024 #16

Magic33

nflowshoe said:

The 17s bring such bad memories for me. After the first time seeing all the Jordan’s 1-16 I remember feeling blown away and the first time seeing the 17s I was meh…Then watching MJ play in them 😑. I try to forget this part of the story line.

The 40 year old who took three years off from basketball and still could score 20?

Aug 15, 2023 #17

therealest1

Aug 27, 2024 #18

thekillerj23

2 spots in Chicago want 600 for a size 10, they can go to hell with that

Sep 18, 2024 #19

DVF1977

Aug 29, 2024 #20

TSCQ

headdetective said:

Won’t be no resale on these

If you’re smart, you’ll wait for a disco

Men lie, women lie
#’s don’t

Aug 28, 2024 #21

floridaproject

Aug 28, 2024 #22

trappedintime

Newlotsavekid87 said:

Is that 8 for sale :nerd:

For the low price of 8 payments of $56.25…

Aug 19, 2024 #23

deadstockjake

Prepare for these to be like the lightning situation. These will shoot up and resell 550-700 bucks. Thanks JB creative/ Business model.

Aug 17, 2023 #24

WASPS ANDD ASPS

ill4eva said:

The price point is ridiculous. Gotta include the bag at least. Lol

For $300 they better throw in Larsa Pippen

Aug 29, 2024 #25

headdetective

Supporter

Trappedinthe loves commenting on me and then reporting me when I get back at him….sucka ****

But anyway, I was wrong….sue me.

That prediction was before lightnings even released and this cat brings up that quote months later with a whole different release :stoneface:

I didn’t think JB would only release 200 pairs for all of us to eat.

Masses don’t love 17’s, them numbers got yall fooled.

Aug 21, 2024 #26

LD7

Ok.. so basically.. anyone that’s not in a major market (like myself in Alabama) can’t get these unless we pay resale?

And the 17s are my favorite Jordan’s, the first pair I bought for myself. SMH.

This is a reason why people are switching brands and why Nike is losing market share.