The 10 Best Sneakers of 2024 NCAA March Madness

Ranking the top ten basketball sneakers worn during the 2024 NCAA Tournaments.
Caitlin Clark's Nike Kobe 5 sneakers.
Caitlin Clark's Nike Kobe 5 sneakers. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Just like that, another season of college basketball has come and gone. It is safe to say there was no shortage of amazing plays, memes, and, best of all, sneakers. Over the past month, every team in the 2024 NCAA Basketball men's and women's tournaments brought the heat with their footwear.

Thanks to social media, brands can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines during March Madness. Every sneaker company funnels its best basketball shoes to their NCAA partner schools. Now that the nets have been cut down and the confetti has stopped flying, it is time to rank their work. Below is the FanNation Kicks list of the top ten sneakers worn during the 2024 NCAA Basketball Tournaments.

10. Flau'Jae Johnson

LSU Tigers guard Flau'Jae Johnson defends Iowa Hawkeyes guard Kate Martin.
Flau'Jae Johnson wears the Nike Ja 1. / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Player: LSU Tigers guard Flau'Jae Johnson.
Shoe: The Nike Ja 1 in a player-exclusive 'LSU Tigers' colorway.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between multiple colorways of Ja Morant's signature sneakers on the Nike website.

9. DJ Burns

North Carolina State Wolfpack forward DJ Burns shoots the ball.
DJ Burns wears the adidas Harden Vol. 8. / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY

Player: North Carolina State Wolfpack forward DJ Burns.
Shoe: The adidas Harden Vol. 8 in the 'Luxury Green' colorway.
How To Buy It: The adidas Harden Vol. 8 is sold out on the adidas website, but online shoppers can find it on StockX.

8. Kamilla Cardoso

South Carolina Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso wears pink Under Armour sneakers.
Kamilla Cardoso wears the Curry Flow 10, / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Player: South Carolina Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso.
Shoe: The Curry Flow 10 in a player-exclusive 'Pink' colorway.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between multiple colorways of Stephen Curry's signature sneakers on the Under Armour website.

7. Ja'Kobe Walter

Baylor Bears guard Ja'Kobe Walter's yellow and green Nike sneakers.
Ja'Kobe Walter wears the Nike Ja 1. / Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA

Player: Baylor Bears guard Ja'Kobe Walter.
Shoe: The Nike Ja 1 in a player-exclusive 'Baylor Bears' colorway.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between multiple colorways of Ja Morant's signature sneakers on the Nike website.

6. Hailey Van Lith

LSU Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith dribbles the ball.
LSU Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith wears the Nike Kobe 5. / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Player: LSU Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith.
Shoe: The Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the 'Gift of the Mamba' colorway.
How To Buy It: Kobe Bryant's sneakers are sold out on the Nike website, but online shoppers can find them on StockX.

5. Breon Pass

North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Breon Pass' white and black adidas sneakers.
Breon Pass wears the adidas Trae 3. / Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Player: North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Breon Pass.
Shoe: A custom colorway of the adidas Trae 3.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between several colorways of Trae Young's sneakers on the adidas website.

4. Cormac Ryan

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Cormac Ryan celebrates after a play.
Cormac Ryan wears the Jordan Luka 2. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Player: UNC Tar Heels guard Cormac Ryan.
Shoe: The Jordan Luka 2 in a player-exclusive colorway inspired by the UNC/Duke rivalry.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between multiple colorways of Luka Doncic's signature Jordan Brand sneakers on the Nike website.

3. Kwame Evans Jr.

Oregon Ducks forward Kwame Evans Jr. grabs a rebound.
Kwame Evans Jr. wears the Nike KD 16. / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Player: Oregon Ducks forward Kwame Evans Jr.
Shoe: The Nike KD 16 in a player-exclusive 'Oregon Ducks' colorway.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between multiple colorways of Kevin Durant's signature sneakers on the Nike website.

2. Caitlin Clark

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark's black and gold Nike sneakers.
Caitlin Clark wears the Nike Kobe 5 Protro. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Player: Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark.
Shoe: The Nike Kobe 5 Protro in the 'Bruce Lee' colorway.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can find Kobe Bryant's sneakers on StockX.

1. Lance Jones

Purdue Boilermakers guard Lance Jones' white and black Nike sneakers.
Lance Jones wears custom Nike Ja 1 sneakers. / Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Player: Purdue Boilermakers guard Lance Jones.
Shoe: The Nike Ja 1 in a custom 'Purdue Boilermakers' colorway.
How To Buy It: Online shoppers can choose between multiple colorways of Ja Morant's signature sneakers on the Nike website.


Published
Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.