Michael Jordan Pledged to His “Divine Nine” Fraternity After Leaving College To Go Pro

Whether you call him "His Airness," the G.O.A.T., or any of his other accolades, Michael Jordan is undoubtedly a legend in his craft.

But long before his championship rings and Air Jordans, he was a college student who experienced many facets of campus life, including Greek life. Yes, Michael is a proud member of a Black fraternity, and his connection to the organization still resonates today.

Michael is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The esteemed frat is part of the "Divine Nine" Black fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Michael became a Que in 1987, years after his college days and well into his professional basketball career. His initiation into Omega Psi Phi was a nod to his roots and a commitment to the fraternity's values of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift.

Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 at Howard University and has a long history of influential members across sports, politics, entertainment, and education. Michael has no problem repping his fraternity, as photos obtained by WatchTheYard.com show him throwing up a hand gesture only the real would understand.

According to My Fraternity, Michael also paid homage to Omega Psi Phi when he created the Nike Air Jordan 1 “Brotherhood” in 2022. He added the fraternity’s signature colors, purple and gold, on the shoe.

Michael attended the University of North Carolina from 1981 to 1984. While there, he studied cultural geography and quickly rose to prominence as a star player under legendary coach Dean Smith. In 1982, Michael hit the game-winning shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, a moment that many say launched his career into the national spotlight.

Michael didn’t graduate from UNC and left the school one year shy of graduation. Despite leaving college early to enter the 1984 NBA Draft, he later returned to the University of North Carolina (UNC) to complete his degree, demonstrating his dedication to education.

Michael’s continued relationship with UNC allowed him to rediscover his desire to go Greek. In June 2025, the Hall of Famer re-released his popular Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “UNC Reimagined” sneakers, per Variety. The sneakers were designed to fit the school’s Tar Heels colors, light blue and white.

While Michael’s reign at UNC is now a significant part of his legacy, fans of the NBA star would be shocked to know he almost didn’t attend the school. According to The Sports Rush, he shared in a 1992 Playboy interview that he initially had his sights set on attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The school was also interested in him attending, but he ultimately decided to go to a school in his hometown, Wilmington, NC.

“By the time [UCLA] wanted to recruit me, they had heard that I was going to stay close to home, which was not necessarily true.”

Even if he had attended UCLA, Michael’s basketball skills likely would have taken him wherever he wanted to go!