The O’Neal family can’t seem to stay away from the headlines. When thinking about Shaquille O’Neal‘s kids, the first one that comes to mind is Shareef O’Neal, who was an excellent player with high potential in college but lost his momentum because of his unforeseen heart condition. Then there is his daughter, Amirah O’Neal, who has been extremely good against her competition so far at the collegiate level. But people often forget the next one in line, Shaqir O’Neal, the youngest son of Shaq, who has always been under the shadows of his siblings. But it’s about to change as Shaqir is ready to show his talent in his second season at Texas Southern.

Even Shaq’s youngest daughter, Me’arah, has been making waves and already has some major deals lined up. But right now, it’s all about Shaqir.

Shaquille O’Neal’s son is ready for the new season

Shaqir took a back seat due to his elder sister, Amirah O’Neal, who transferred from LSU to Texas Southern. She is a year older than Shaqir and has impressed many in Texas. While Shaqir did not do much in his first year with the team, he has shown that he is taking steps in the right direction.

The Texas Southern head coach, Johnny Jones, heaped high praise on Shaqir recently. He is looking forward to what the 20-year-old will be able to bring to the team. With the departure of many of their starters, the roles are up for grabs.

Jones was an assistant during Shaquille O’Neal’s time at LSU. So it’s a good comfort for Shaqir to have someone as his coach who can give him some chances to show his potential. During the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Media Day on Oct. 4, Jones said, “One of the new guys we’re really happy and excited about and who’s done a really good job during the offseason is Shaqir O’Neal.“

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As per Clutch Points, Jones talked about the importance of having the experience they have now. Shaqir has definitely impressed the head coach with his work ethic. It’s just a matter of time before we get to see the true potential of Shaqir O’Neal.

Shaqir O’Neal’s future might not be as bright as his brother’s

Shaqir O’Neal made his debut in the 2022-2023 season. He played in the Tigers’ 20 games out of 34 but only logged in less than 7 minutes per game. This is mostly because the Texas Southern team prioritizes giving heavy minutes to their senior players.

For a player who has been getting reserve minutes and has averaged less than 2 points in his first year in college, it might be a little difficult to make it to the NBA. However, with a possible increased role in his sophomore year, the 20-year-old will get a chance to shut his critics up for good.

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What do you think about Shaqir O’Neal’s future? Let us know in the comments!