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The University of Kentucky has been selected by Vanessa Bryant to become the first-ever Kobe Brand-sponsored school.
The news was first reported by Jack Pilgrim of KSR.
Kentucky will be the first member of the “Mamba Program,” with “several other programs” expected to join in the future. As part of the program, the Kentucky athletic department will receive a number of Nike Kobe PEs (Player Exclusive) for in-game use.
The Wildcats could also have special uniforms with the Kobe logo in the future.
The University of Kentucky has been selected by Vanessa Bryant as the first Kobe Brand sponsored school 🐍💙 pic.twitter.com/i1MA4jL0jf
— JustFreshKicks (@JustFreshKicks) August 15, 2023
Kentucky Wildcats being the first Kobe Brand school is big. This means lots of Kobe’s 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/z6hX3lnHiP
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) August 14, 2023
Kentucky and the Bryant family have a close relationship, previously working together last October on a youth basketball camp.
The university hosted Kobe’s oldest daughter Natalia Bryant and the Mamba Skills Academy for the camp which featured five-on-five games and drill stations for underprivileged boys and girls in the community.
The news comes following the announcement that Nike is relaunching the Nike Kobe line with the “Halo Series.”
It will be exciting to see what Kentucky brings to the court with the new partnership and which schools join the “Mamba Program” in the future.
