Me'Arah O'Neal Commits to Florida: Carrying on a Basketball Legacy
- Kyle Curtis
- Nov 13, 2023
- 1 min read
Me'Arah O'Neal, the youngest child of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, has officially committed to playing women's basketball for the Florida Gators. The 17-year-old, standing at 6-foot-4 and ranked 33rd in the espnW Top 100 for the 2024 class, chose Florida over other options, including her father's alma mater, LSU. Following her official visit to Gainesville in September, O'Neal expressed a strong connection with Coach Kelly Rae Finley, solidifying her decision to join the Gators.
During her visit to LSU with her father last spring, O'Neal experienced a memorable moment where the school recognized her due to Shaquille O'Neal's iconic legacy with the Tigers. Despite the connection, Shaquille advised Me'Arah to "go where you're needed, not where you're wanted," encouraging her to embark on her unique journey. O'Neal, residing in Houston and attending Episcopal High School, emphasized that her family supported her but acknowledged making the college decision independently.
Growing up in Orlando, Florida, O'Neal, inspired by her older siblings, started dribbling a basketball at the age of three. Her versatile skills gained national attention through appearances in events like the SLAM Summer Classic, Nike World Basketball Festival, and the Wootten Basketball Camp. Moochie Norris, her current skills and development coach and a former NBA player, praised her abilities, highlighting her ball-handling, shooting, rim protection, and decision-making.
O'Neal's commitment adds to the strength of the Gators' 2024-25 recruiting class, which includes Alivia McGill, ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the class and considered the highest-ranked recruit in program history. With her family's basketball legacy and her own emerging talents, Me'Arah O'Neal is poised to make a significant impact for KRF.
What’s unfolding under coach Kelly Rae Finley is unprecedented at Florida. The women’s games typically draw just over a thousand at home. Alivia McGill is our second 5* recruit by KRF, in consecutive years, which never before had been done by a Gator women’s basketball coach. The LOI from Me’Arah O’Neill is another signpost of the rapid improvement under our young coach’s watch. Attendance is going to boom as Coach Finley’s teams start challenging the upper echelon powers in the SEC.