Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris Jordan. The family moved from Brooklyn to Wilmington, North Carolina, when Michael was still a young child. Long before his basketball skills emerged, young Michael liked to play baseball with his father. As a teenager, Jordan became well known in North Carolina for his baseball skills, and he was named most valuable player (MVP) of the Babe Ruth League after his team won the state championship.
Jordan attended Wilmington's Laney High School, where at first he failed to make the varsity basketball team.
Jordan attended Wilmington's Laney High School, where at first he failed to make the varsity basketball team. Instead, Laney's basketball coach, Clifton "Pop" Herring, decided that Jordan could improve his skills with more playing time on the junior varsity team. As a sophomore on the junior varsity, Jordan, then 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) tall, averaged 25 points per game.
Michael Jordan's college jersey hanging from the r...
Picture of Michael Jordan plaque at the United Cen...
English: Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan and Phil Jac...The following summer Jordan worked diligently on his own and at basketball camps to improve his game. During this early period in his career, Jordan's brother Larry contributed much to his development as a player. Although Larry was only 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) tall, he regularly beat Michael in one-on-one games and taught Michael about the importance of competition. By the time high school started the next fall, Jordan had grown to 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) and was confident he would make the varsity squad.
As a high school junior Jordan did make the Laney varsity and was a valuable member of the squad. He then attended the nationally renowned Five-Star Basketball Camp during the summer before his senior season. There, Jordan met legendary University of North Carolina (UNC) coach Dean Smith, who...