Florida A&M forward Shaqir O’Neal, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille, has entered the transfer portal following a season in which the 6-foot-8, 200-pounder averaged 6.7 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field. He spent one season with the Rattlers after previously playing at Texas Southern for two years.
Where could O’Neal end up this time?
Top 5 Transfer Portal Landing Spots for Shaqir O’Neal
Georgia State Panthers
O’Neal played at Union Grove High School in McDonough, Ga., less than an hour southeast of Atlanta, where the Georgia State Panthers are located. Coach Jonas Hayes’ squad finished 14-19 and eighth in the Sun Belt this year. Forward Nick McMullen has exhausted his eligibility, and fellow forwards Justin Archer and Zarique Nutter could move on as well.
Georgia Southern Eagles
O’Neal could choose to stay in the Peach State with another Sun Belt squad at Georgia Southern. The Eagles tied with Georgia State, Old Dominion, and Louisiana for eighth place in the Sun Belt and could lose up to four forwards on the roster. O’Neal would bring experience and size to the position.
Southern Jaguars
The Jaguars finished 20-12 and won the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season title. It would be a move up the SWAC ladder for O’Neal after his one-year stay at Florida A&M.
UCLA Bruins
Given his modest statistics in lower-level conferences, this could be a pie-in-the-sky move for O’Neal.
KEEP READING: When Does the Transfer Portal Close for College Basketball? Key Information To Know for 2025
Still, coach Mick Cronin might take a flyer on a famous name joining his squad, along with Donovan Dent, the 2024-25 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, who just joined the Bruins. O’Neal’s older brother, Shareef, spent his freshman year there.
LSU Tigers
Another hopeful location given Shaqir O’Neal’s collegiate resume, but the Tigers could take the legacy in honor of their father, Shaquille, a two-time consensus All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year who averaged 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks in three years with the Tigers.
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
