Shaq’s daughter, Me’Arah O’Neal, announces transfer to Kentucky Wildcats
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
College sports are completely different from when Shaquille O’Neal spent his days dunking basketballs for the LSU Tigers before entering the NBA.
O’Neal played three seasons at LSU before choosing to turn pro. He was later selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 draft.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. GET THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Florida Gators forward Me’arah O’Neal walks on the field during halftime against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on January 4, 2026 in Gainesville, Florida. (Matt Pendleton/Imagn Images)
With the rise of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and increased use of the transfer portal, there is hardly an athlete today who has not at least considered changing schools. O’Neal’s daughter became the latest college athlete to change schools on Monday.
Me’Arah O’Neal announced that she will be transferring to the Kentucky Wildcats.
“I thank you for being wonderfully different. Your works are wonderful; I know this very well. (Psalms 139:14),” he wrote on Instagram, announcing his commitment.
Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper attempts to make a shot while being guarded by Florida forward Me’Arah O’Neal during an NCAA college basketball game in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 1, 2026. (Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
O’Neal played two seasons with the Gators and will see increased playing time in 2025-26. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Florida finished the year 18-15 but failed to qualify for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The Wildcats are coming off a season in which they made the Elite Eight. Kentucky finished 25-11 and defeated the James Madison Dukes and West Virginia Mountaineers before falling to the Texas Longhorns.
Shaquille O’Neal previously praised his daughter as the standout basketball player in her family.
Shaquille O’Neal honors the flag during halftime of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactech Arena on January 29, 2026 in Gainesville, Florida. His daughter, Florida forward Me’arah O’Neal, is on the team. (Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
She previously said: “My baby is the best athlete in the family because he can do anything.” via ESPN. “He’s not an old-school player. He’s a new player who chooses his type, so I’ll give him that title. He can shoot, he can dribble. He can’t be surprised when it comes to certain things.”
