Shaqir O’Neal is a rising player in college basketball with a growing presence on the court. He’s played for schools like Texas Southern and Florida A&M, showing flashes of athleticism and strong shooting.
In 2025, he transferred to Sacramento State for a new chapter in his college career. With his size and skill, Shaqir has left many fans wondering if he is related to one of basketball’s biggest legends, Shaquille O’Neal.
The Truth About Shaqir O’Neal Relation to 4-Time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal
Shaqir is the son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest centers in league history. While his famous name brings increased pressure, Shaqir has never backed away from it.
“Pressure is a privilege. I love it. I like that attention,” O’Neal told the Tallahassee Democrat in 2024. “I put in the work, so I go out there and show it. I’d rather have a lot of pressure than no pressure.”
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Shaqir suited up for Florida A&M University (FAMU) in 2024 after beginning his collegiate career at Texas Southern University. The 6-foot-7, 185-pounder recently entered the transfer portal and verbally committed to play basketball at Sacramento State in 2025.
The 22-year-old played his junior season (2024–25) at FAMU in the SWAC after spending three seasons — redshirting during the 2021–22 campaign — at Texas Southern. That year, he averaged 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and nearly one assist per game, shooting over 50% from the field and more than 40% from beyond the arc.
ICYMI: Shaqir O’Neal was number 9 on SC Top Ten last night for his big dunk in last night’s win.#FAMU | #Rattlers | #OneMore pic.twitter.com/ls3gqrt4zH
— Florida A&M Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@FAMU_MBB) November 24, 2024
One of his standout performances came in November 2024, when he dropped 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds against Trinity Baptist, highlighted by a powerful dunk that landed on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10.
O’Neal Family Basketball Legacy
Shaquille O’Neal won four NBA championships and was a 15-time All-Star during his legendary career. His son, Shareef O’Neal, played college basketball at UCLA and LSU before spending time in the NBA G League.
In 2023, Shaq’s youngest daughter, Me’Arah O’Neal, signed to play for the Florida Gators. She picked Florida over LSU, her father’s former school. Me’Arah made her college debut in the 2024–25 season and had a breakout game in February, scoring a career-high 19 points against Arkansas.
Shaqir O’Neal also has a strong family tie to Florida A&M University. His aunt, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, was a FAMU graduate with a degree in business. She passed away in 2019 after a long battle with cancer.
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