Over the last month, high school basketballer Brandon Jennings has made headlines with his decision to skip college at the University of Arizona to play for Virtus Roma in Europe. 

While the news puts a damper on NCAA fans' hope to see Jennings dominate as a freshman, it did highlight - if only for a few days - Jennings' roots to late 80s/early 90s hair fashion.  That's right friends, Brandon Jennings is bringing the high fade to Italy [cue Kid 'n Play soundtrack].

Jennings' involvement in the push to bring back the fade (or box, if you prefer) did not go unnoticed here at JSF headquarters.  In fact, it gave me every reason to go back in time to revisit some of the sports world's more recognizable high and low fades.  Along the way, I didn't forget the flattop - better known as high and low fades for white people.   

Standard High Fade

Kenny Sky Walker



Sky had, by definition, the standard high fade :: a style of haircut where hair on the sides is cut off or kept very low and hair on the top of the head is very long (in contrast, a low fade is when hair on the top is kept shorter). The hi-top has been a trend symbolizing the Golden Era of Hip Hop and urban contemporary music during the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The hi-top fade was common among African-American youths between 1986 to 1993 and to a lesser extent in the mid-1990s (1994-1995). The style fell out of fashion by 1996.

Although his NBA career was nothing short of forgettable, Walker made his mark in the field of player fashion, both with his hair and renowned basketball tights.  Truly a landmark player. 

Standard Low Fade

Dominique Wilkeins



He was the human highlight reel film and the perveyor of low-top fades for men and boys the world over.  For someone who didn't grow up with an NBA team to follow, Dominique Wilkens still made a big enough impact on me that he was my favorite player.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: the team of Wilkens and Stacey Augmon on NBA Jam was one of the best, if not most overlooked teams on the game. 

Was it the ridiculous dunking that made Wilkens a childhood favorite and an eventual roomate on my bedroom wall?  Probably.  But who's to say I wasn't magnetically drawn to the most dominant low fade in the late 80s NBA?  Wilkens' low fade was so well known that even his T-shirts paid detailed attention, a sign of true quality.

I'll Block the Sh*t Out of you Low Fade

Patrick Ewing



Very few players are associated with announcers throughout their careers (Jack Buck/Ozzie Smith, Vin Scully/Kirk Gibson etc), but Patrick Ewing  was one of the few.  He and Marv Albert kind of go hand-in-hand.  Another famed relationship Ewing comprised that is often forgotten was the low fade.  At times it looked like a mini-fro, and other times it came off high.  In the end, though, the low fade prevailed atop Ewing's rather massive cranium - even as his knees became brittle twigs. 

Standard Flattop

Sting



Sting was the cornerstone of WCW in the days when Vince McMahon was running a circus up North.  While some attributed his company position to Ric Flair's departure to the WWF, others saw through it and realized Sting was flat out cool.  It's a simple formula, really: Face Paint + Blond Flattop = Success.  Somewhere in that equation is "wrestling talent", but the facepaint/flattop combo was money when it came to wrestling stardom. 

As an aside, Sting first gained notoriety in wrestling as one half of the "Blade Runners".  His tag team partner Rock eventually became the Ultimate Warrior, who, as you know, eventually became a psycho.

I'll Pick you Up if you're Stranded on the Highway Flattop

Howie Long



If there's one thing Howie Long should be remembered for, it's his addition of high-class and smugness to the flattop.  In the sports world, very few individuals can pull off the white man's flattop with ample doses of supreme confidence.  Long is one of those few.  Perhaps when Howie is asking stranded drivers on the freeway if they need a lift, he's referring to their hair.  You think it's a coincidence his bronze plaque has a flattop? 

My Hair was Cut with Sheep Sheers Flattop

Eric Montross, Greg Ostertag, Chris Mullin



The countryboy flattop was a fairly affluent one in college and pro basketball in the late 80s and early 90s.  It landed one such flattop a roster spot on the Dream Team and subsequent gold medal at the 92 Olympics, and another captured a national championship at the University of North Carolina one year later.  As for the third, Greg Ostertag?  It took him places he never should have been.  

My Hair was Cut with Sheep Sheers and I Smell Horrible Flattop

Bryant Reeves



Is there anyone out there who thinks Bryant Reeves smells pleasant?  Is there anyone out there who thinks about how Bryant Reeves smells at all?  Did I ask too many questions without providing any insight or opinion?  Probably, so here's something: Bryant Reeves' flattop is utterly disgusting.  I bet he breathes heavy and smells bad, too.

Sonic Boom High Fade

Guile - Street Fighter II

 

Along the path to defeating E Honda, Blanka, Chun Li and the others, Guile had an impeccable flattop.  It's sheer height and originality no doubt left his opponents awe-struck, providing ample opportunity to seek and destroy.  The yellow flattop was so high that I've deemed it "high fade" status, even though Guile is Caucasian.  That's some serious height, and quite an accomplishment to boot.

Prince of High Fade

Will Smith



The Fresh Prince had as much to do with the early 90s fade as anyone.  And if you want to get picky and say he wasn't an athlete, Will played basketball in various episodes of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  Plus, he spent most of his days on the playground, chillin' out relaxin, shootin some b-ball outside of the school.  Many times, a couple of guys up to no good started to make trouble in his neighborhood and he'd get in little fights.  He's an athlete.

King of High Fade

Kid - Kid 'n Play



Was he an athlete?  No.  But there is no way I can write a column about the return of the high fade and fail to mention the godfather of it all.  His royal highness, if you will (**clever**).  Look at that thing.

Brandon Jennings has some serious work to do.

The Return of the High Fade was written by Patrick Imig.  He had a spike when he was a kid, but never got to look as good as Kid's high fade.  Email him at patrick@joesportsfan.com