Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest daughter isn’t following in his footsteps, even though she is final in convention.
Me’Arah O’Neal, the youngest kid of the basketball Corridor of Famer and TNT analyst, dedicated to play ladies’s basketball at Florida formally on Sunday.
“I went at the Florida talk over with, and I had a sense that is the place I belonged,” Me’Arah stated, . “And that I used to be going to be maximum a hit if I went to move play at Florida. I felt like I attached with trainer Kelly [Rae Finley] greater than I attached with any of the opposite colleges that recruited me. She truly cares about me no longer simply at the courtroom however off the courtroom. That is necessary for me.”
Me’Arah, a 6-foot-4 ahead, is the No. 33 recruit in . The 17-year-old had a number of different notable provides to play subsequent season, together with at LSU — which is each the protecting nationwide champions and the place her father performed in school ahead of his 19 season occupation within the league.
Shaq and Me’Arah visited LSU in combination ultimate spring, which Shaq instructed ESPN used to be “probably the most very best moments of his lifestyles.” Me’Arah, even though, made her school choice on her personal — one thing that Shaq used to be all about.
“Consider it or no longer, I attempted to stick out of it. … What I did inform her is, ‘Move the place you might be wanted, no longer the place you might be sought after. As a result of should you cross the place you might be sought after and so they were given folks such as you, might take some time,’’ he stated. “I need [my kids] to have their very own adventure, have their very own enjoy.”
Me’Arah will sign up for Alvia McGill in Florida’s 2024-25 recruiting elegance. McGill used to be the No. 16-ranked recruit within the elegance, and is Florida’s highest-ranked recruit ever. The Gators are 2-0 thus far this season, Finley’s 3rd with this system. The Gators made it to the WNIT’s Elite 8, however fell to Bowling inexperienced.
Shaq’s different youngsters have all performed collegiately, too. Shareef performed at each UCLA and LSU, and maximum just lately performed within the G League. He overlooked his freshman season with the Bruins, on the other hand, after . Me’Arah’s different brother, Shaqir, lately performs at Texas Southern, and her sister, Amirah, performed at each LSU and Texas Southern.
