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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels, Jumpman take center stage in 2022

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 05: A close-up of the Jumpman logo on the shoes of the North Carolina Tar Heels before playing against the North Carolina State Wolfpack on February 05, 2019 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 113-96. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 05: A close-up of the Jumpman logo on the shoes of the North Carolina Tar Heels before playing against the North Carolina State Wolfpack on February 05, 2019 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 113-96. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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The UNC basketball program will join Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma in the inaugural Jumpman Invitational in 2022.

The University of North Carolina men’s and women’s basketball programs will headline the inaugural Jumpman Invitational set to take place in Charlotte in December of 2022. Joining the Tar Heels in the star-studded event are the Florida Gators, the Michigan Wolverines and the Oklahoma Sooners.

News of the event broke on Thursday morning from a press release issued by Jordan Brand and the Charlotte Sports Foundation, as the two organizations have entered into a three-year deal to put on the tournament. The high-profile non-conference tourney features the four original schools to sign partnership deals for both their basketball and football programs.

"“We’re incredibly excited to bring what we believe will quickly become the marquee college basketball event of the holiday season to the Queen City,” said Charlotte Sports Foundation executive director Danny Morrison. “These are four of the most storied and competitive programs in the game, and we’re looking forward to the interconference play.I’ve got to thank Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione for being the first to suggest getting the original four Jordan Brand schools together for an event. And our Board of Directors is especially pleased to highlight both men’s and women’s college basketball in this way while offering the same amazing experience for all the players, coaches and fans.”"

Games will take place at the Spectrum Center, where the Charlotte Hornets play their home games. Games will take place on December 20-21 in the first year of the event, with details on future years to come at a later time.

It was also announced that ESPN will be covering the event for the foreseeable future, and that more Jordan Brand-sponsored schools could join the event in 2023 and 2024. Morrison also noted that there is talk of extending the event beyond the initial three-year deal.

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