Nike Ja 3 Honors College Roots

The "Murray State" colorway of the Nike Ja 3 features a striking mismatched design, with the left and right shoes mirroring each other in the university's Deep Royal Blue and Lightning yellow colors. This asymmetrical theme is a nod to Morant's electrifying and unpredictable style of play that began to take shape during his college years. The shoe is set for release on March 5, 2026, with a retail price of $125. Before becoming the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, Ja Morant was an unranked high school recruit. He was discovered by a Murray State assistant coach who was looking for a snack at a concession stand and happened to see Morant playing in a side gym. Morant quickly committed to Murray State, one of the few Division I schools to offer him a scholarship. During his sophomore season (2018-19), Morant became the first player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game. He led the nation in assists and was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, finishing as a consensus first-team All-American. Morant led the Murray State Racers to back-to-back OVC tournament championships. In the 2019 NCAA Tournament, he recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists to lead the 12th-seeded Racers to an upset victory over 5th-seeded Marquette. The Ja 3 incorporates Nike's responsive ZoomX foam for enhanced bounce and energy return, a feature Morant himself described as "jet fuel." The outsole features a traction pattern made of mini "JA" logos, designed to support his quick, decisive cuts on the court. His number "12" is also featured on the shoe.