Nike is Paying Tribute to Kobe’s High School Alma Mater with Kobe 5 Lower Merion Aces Colorway

Published March 10, 2026 at 4:30 PM

Quick Facts

Nike is repping the Lower Merion Aces this year with two pairs of Air Force 1 Lows in school colors and, for the on-court squad, a re-release of a Nike Kobe 5 in the team’s school colors that originally dropped in 2010
We first got word of the Protro of the Lower Merion Kobe 5 last year, and as we get closer to the drop date, we’ve finally got a detailed look at the maroon and silver pair
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro Lower Merion Aces will be released March 23, 2026

Kobe Bryant famously leaped straight from high school to NBA superstardom, so while plenty of NCAA hoopers will lace up Kobe Protros for this year’s March Madness tourney, none will be repping the Black Mamba’s alma mater on their jersey. That honor is reserved for the young hoopers at Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia.

Nike is repping the Lower Merion Aces this year with two pairs of Air Force 1 Lows in school colors and, for the on-court squad, a re-release of a Nike Kobe 5 in the team’s school colors that originally dropped in 2010. We first got word of the Protro of the Lower Merion Kobe 5 last year, and as we get closer to the drop date, we’ve finally got a detailed look at the maroon and silver pair.

The Nike Kobe 5 Protro Lower Merion Aces is a two-tone mix that perfectly matches the Ace’s jerseys, starting with chrome silver on the toebox, tongue, side panels, and heel, with deep maroon red on the structural lace panel, outsole, side panel Swooshes, and sockliner. The Kobe sheath logos on the tongue are also done in maroon and the laces go two-tone in the same colors to complete the look.

The Nike Kobe 5 Protro Lower Merion Aces will be released March 23, 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at $200. For all the latest Kobe Protro news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever App.