Jordan 2 UNC Low: Once a Tar Heel, Always a Tar Heel!

The Jordan 2 UNC Low released on July 8, 2023 at a $150 retail price under style code DV9956-104. Inspired by a Player Exclusive Michael Jordan wore in 1987, this white and University Blue retro proves that once a Tar Heel, always a Tar Heel. After touching $300 in pre-release listings, pairs now trade between $105 and $160 across adult sizes.

• Release Date & Retail: Launched July 8, 2023 at $150 retail in full family sizing (adult style code DV9956-104).
• 1987 PE Backstory: Replicates the white-and-blue low-top Jordan wore on June 28, 1987 during a 116-111 UNC vs. UCLA Alumni Game win.
• Upper Construction: White grained leather upper with faux lizard-skin midfoot overlays and University Blue heel and midsole accents.
• Aftermarket Range: Reached $300 in early pre-launch asks before settling into a buyer-friendly $105 to $160 resale range.

What Happened in the 1987 Alumni Game That Inspired the Jordan 2 UNC?

The archival story behind the Jordan 2 UNC dates back to June 28, 1987. Three years earlier in 1984, Michael Jordan signed his rookie Nike deal. Under the For the Love of the Game contract clause with Chicago, Jordan could play exhibition games off-season. He used that clause in June 1987 to suit up for North Carolina at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. Jordan scored 18 second-half points to lead a 116-111 UNC alumni victory.

During that June 1987 broadcast, fans spotted Jordan wearing a custom white and Carolina blue AJ2 Low PE instead of Chicago red. The Tar Heels erased a 19-point deficit behind his late scoring burst. For 36 years, that collegiate PE remained unavailable to the public until the July 8, 2023 retro release.

What Leather and Color Details Define the 2023 Tar Heel Low-Top?

Designed originally by Bruce Kilgore and Peter Moore in 1986, the second Air Jordan model eliminated the midfoot Swoosh. Luxury leather paneling replaced traditional sidewall branding on the 1986 Italian-made original. On the July 8, 2023 release (DV9956-104), crisp white tumbled leather forms the perforated toe box and tongue. Textured lizard-skin overlays wrap the midfoot quarter panels in matching white. University Blue accents highlight the ribbed TPU heel counter, sockliner, and Wings tongue crest.

Underfoot, a white polyurethane midsole houses encapsulated Air-Sole cushioning in the heel. Cement Grey and University Blue rubber pods on the outsole provide court traction. Across all footwear lines, the parent company works with over 500 contract factories. Those factories operate in 41 countries per the Nike global manufacturing map.

How Did 2022 and 2023 Collaborations Revive the 1986 Silhouette?

Before the July 2023 collegiate retro arrived, Beaverton spent two years rebuilding hype around the polarized 1986 silhouette. High-profile boutique and artist partnerships led that 2021 and 2022 revival. Virgil Abloh sparked the wave with his November 2021 Off-White AJ2 Low. Next, the April 2022 Union LA Jordan 2 overhauled the high-top in Grey Fog canvas at $225 retail. Contemporary artist collaborations followed in July 2022 with the streamlined Nina Chanel Abney Jordan 2 pack.

That two-year collaborative push set the stage for heritage colorways in 2023. Rather than altering the shape with exposed foam or canvas tags, the July 8, 2023 Tar Heel edition relied on 1987 archival accuracy. Clean summer color blocking appealed to purists and college basketball fans alike.

How Does the July 8, 2023 Release Compare to Other AJ2 Drops?

Priced at $150 retail in adult men’s sizing, the July 8, 2023 release also dropped in grade-school ($120), preschool ($75), and toddler ($55) sizes. Most online pairs launched through a 10-minute Nike SNKRS draw alongside tier-zero boutiques. Early pre-release listings on the StockX Jordan 2 Retro Low UNC page reached $300 ahead of drop day. Healthy 2023 production numbers later brought post-launch prices below retail in smaller sizes.

Compared to the $250 retail 2022 Titan and Two 18 collaborations, the 1987 collegiate PE colorway holds steady demand among North Carolina alumni. Low-top summer wearability also helped the $150 retail edition move steadily across secondary platforms. The table below compares four notable 2022 and 2023 AJ2 releases.

What Are the Resale Prices and Seller Fees for DV9956-104 Pairs?

Early pre-release pairs traded near $300 before the July 8, 2023 launch. Post-release supply then pushed standard men’s sizes 8 to 10.5 down to $105 to $135. Larger men’s sizes 11.5 to 14 trade closer to the $150 retail price between $140 and $160 per marketplace data. That price trajectory makes the 1987 PE reissue an affordable pickup for personal wear.

While pre-release sellers at the $300 early ask cleared $259.65 on GOAT after fees, post-launch sales at $150 net $126.90 against the $150 retail tag.

Sellers calculating net proceeds on GOAT must deduct the 9.5% base commission plus $5 per order. A 2.9% cashout fee also applies according to GOAT fee documentation. The table below compares net payouts across the early $300 pre-release ask and post-launch size tiers.

How Does the Air Jordan 2 Low Fit and Style for Everyday Wear?

The Jordan 2 UNC Low fits true to size and features generous interior padding around the heel collar and tongue. Compared to the flat rubber cupsole of an Air Jordan 1 Low, the thicker polyurethane midsole feels softer underfoot. All-day walking is noticeably more comfortable in the 1986 tooling. Wide-footed wearers can stay true to size thanks to the rounded toe box.

• Summer Styling: Pair the white leather and University Blue heel accents with light-wash denim, grey athletic shorts, or vintage North Carolina collegiate tees.
• Leather Maintenance: Wipe the textured faux-lizard side panels with a damp microfiber cloth and apply a neutral leather conditioner to the smooth white toe box.
• Automated Checkout Software: Collectors targeting limited retro drops use AIO bot tools including Valor AIO, Cybersole, Stellar AIO, and NikeShoeBot to automate multi-task checkouts across SNKRS and boutiques.

Keeping cedar shoe trees inside the white leather toe box prevents deep creasing across the perforated vamp.

Did Michael Jordan ever wear the Carolina blue low-top in an actual game?

Yes, he wore the white and University Blue PE on June 28, 1987 during the UNC vs. UCLA Alumni Game at Pauley Pavilion, leading North Carolina to a 116-111 win.

When did theDV9956-104 retro release and what was its retail price?

The shoe launched on July 8, 2023 at a $150 retail price in adult sizes alongside grade-school ($120), preschool ($75), and toddler ($55) pairs.