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Who Is Me’Arah O’Neal? Everything You Need to Know About Shaquille O’Neal’s Youngest Daughter

Published 02/29/2024, 9:17 PM EST

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Me’Arah O’Neal might be the youngest in her family, but she might also be the most talented basketball player after Shaq. Shareef O’Neal and Shaqir O’Neal have made a mark in American basketball. However, Me’Arah’s impact at just 17 years of age is much more than what many expected. While many await her entry into the NCAA, several reports have revealed that she is one of the most-awaited prospects in the WNBA, for her height and fluidity like Shaquille O’Neal. 

Me’Arah O’Neal is currently representing Episcopal High School of Texas. In a few more months, the young baller will be in college, but won’t be following Shaq’s footsteps by joining the LSU. Instead, she made an independent decision to join the University of Florida to sport the orange jersey in the NCAA. Me’Arah got offers from several universities. 

She even visited the LSU along with her dad. However, there is a reason why she decided to join the Florida Gators. In an interview with ESPN, Me’Arah said, “I felt like I connected with Coach Kelly more than I connected with any of the other schools that recruited me. She really cares about me not just on the court but off the court. That’s important for me.” You can already see clarity in the words of the youngster. Do not forget, she is just 17!

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Me’Arah is already 6’4 and looks like a mini version of Shaquille O’Neal. Are we in for a 7-footer? Well, you might not want to rule that out. Several coaches and college teams already consider her a nightmare on the court. Her growing years are yet to end and the taller she grows, the scarier it’ll get for those playing against her. She’s already entering herself into those record books, as she became only the second individual from her family to achieve a certain feat.

Me’Arah will receive the McDonald’s All-American honor after Shaquille O’Neal!

This is something the Big Diesel would be proud of. Just a month ago, Me’Arah made a proud announcement on her social media handle that she was selected to play in the McDonalds All-American game. The last time someone got these honors from the O’Neal family was Shaq in 1989. He had also won the MVP after he dropped 18 points and 16 rebounds to deliver a dominant win for the West. 

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The 17-year-old is ranked 33 by ESPN for the class of 2024. Her All-American game will take place at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 2. All eyes will be on Shaq’s famous daughter and fans will be rooting for her to bring home the MVP, just like her dad.

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Ahead of the big game, the TNT crew unveiled her All-American jersey on ‘Inside the NBA’, where Shaq stood as a proud father, in front of Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and thousands of live viewers. The Los Angeles Lakers legend kissed Me’Arah on her forehead and shared, “I’m so proud of you and I love you”

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Well, Shaq has a lot of hopes for Me’Arah’s potential Hall of Fame career, and so do we. What are your thoughts on the young prospect? Do you think she will live up to the hype?

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Written by:

Rohan Dharmalingam

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Rohan Dharmalingam is an NBA beat writer at EssentiallySports, who extensively covers the Lakers. Be it a multimillion dollar deal breaking or a classic throwback, Rohan has covered the many themes and formats. Most notably, his coverage received a shoutout from the Purple & Gold icon Shaquille O'Neal and the rap legend 50 Cent, on Instagram.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz