Shaqir O’Neal, the youngest son of Shaquille O’Neal, has entered the transfer portal after one year at Florida A&M, per Jaime Shaw of On3.
O’Neal is coming off a career year in his lone season at FAMU. In his first real regular collegiate action, O’Neal averaged 6.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 18 minutes over 29 appearances, including 17 starts. He produced one double-double while shooting 50.3/37.5/63.5 for the Rattlers.
What stands out about O’Neal is his athleticism. The 6-7 wing is an explosive slasher who loves to get out in transition and get to the rim, whether off the bounce or cut. He is a solid finisher at the rim.
Late-Blooming Son Of NBA Hall of Famer and 4-Time Champion Enters Transfer Portal Again
O’Neal is a good scorer who can light it up when he “feels it, ” as he has a quick shooting stroke. O’Neal showed tremendous improvement as a shooter with the Rattlers and is also a good defensive rebounder. He scored in double figures eight times this season, topping the 20-point mark twice.
Shaqir is the fifth biological child of Shaquille O’Neal, who also adopted the son of his former wife, Shaunie Nelson. Four of the four-time NBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer’s children have played college basketball. His eldest son, Shareef O’Neal, spent one season at UCLA and two at LSU.
Amirah O’Neal, Shaq’s second-oldest daughter, played on the women’s basketball teams at LSU and Texas Southern. However, there is no evidence she played in a game for either program. Meanwhile, Me’Arah O’Neal—Shaq’s youngest daughter —is a freshman at Florida. Me’Arah has appeared in 34 games for the Gators this season, averaging 4.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 14 minutes a game.
It will be interesting to see whether O’Neal can attract any major interest in his second time in the transfer portal. Prior to his arrival at FAMU, O’Neal spent three seasons at Texas Southern. After redshirting during his freshman season (2021-22), he appeared in 41 games for the Tigers over the subsequent two seasons, though he averaged less than nine minutes a game.
What About FAMU?
O’Neal is one of many 2024-25 Florida A&M players to hit the transfer portal. With O’Neal leaving the program, the Rattlers will have to replace their top four scorers.
Point guard and leading scorer Sterling Young thrived in his lone season with FAMU after transferring from Charlotte. Young, the 2024-25 SWAC POY, averaged 17 points while shooting .439/.349/.814.
Like Young, Milton Matthews gets extra eligibility because he spent time in junior college. Matthews also had a career year in his lone season in Tallahassee, averaging 14.8 points and shooting a SWAC-best 36.8% from deep.
Jordan Chapman, third on the team in scoring, has also entered the transfer portal. Kaleb Washington and Trey Lewis have also announced plans to transfer.
On a positive note, Antonio Munoz (Chicago) committed to FAMU on Saturday, per the Tallahassee Democrat. Munoz is a three-star recruit who held offers from at least six schools, including California.
Florida A&M finished 14-17 last season, its most wins since 2013-14, under first-year coach Patrick Crarey II. The Rattlers finished seventh in the SWAC with a 10-8 record, making the conference tournament for the second time since joining the conference prior to the 2021-22 campaign. They also picked up their first conference tournament win, defeating Prairie View in the opening round.
Florida A&M has made three NCAA tournament appearances, going 1-3. The Rattlers have not made the NCAA tourney since 2007, the last season they produced a winning record. Overall, they have a .386 winning percentage.
Photo Credit © Rob Gray, Imagn Images
