Kobe Bryant graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1996 and directly entered the NBA, becoming a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.  He never played for a college team and thus Nike has been unable to issue a retro jeresey of his, as they have with players like Michael Jordan and Chris Webber.

Nike is getting creative though and have signed a  contract with Lower Merion to license the jersey Bryant wore for their school.  Nike's product line would include replicas of the maroon-and-white, No. 33 jersey Bryant wore when he played for the Lower Merion "Aces."

School officials expect royalties of about $100,000 over the next five years from the deal.  Discussion of this deal between the two sides began last February.