Florida Gators guard Me’Arah O’Neal recently broke her father, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal’s, record for a single-game career-high points during the SEC postseason. On Wednesday, March 4, Me’Arah and the rest of coach Kelly Rae Finley’s Gators faced coach Sam Purcell’s Mississippi State Bulldogs at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
Me’Arah scored a team-high 22 points on an efficient 7-of-12 overall shooting, to go along with four rebounds and a steal in just 24 minutes of playing time. In a post by @nilstore on Instagram on Thursday, it was revealed that Me’Arah O’Neal’s 22-point outing is actually more than Shaquille O’Neal could ever put up in the SEC tournament during his playing days in the 90s, as his career-high is 16 points from 1992.
“@mearahoneal_ surpassed her dad in SEC tournament scoring yesterday after a 22-point performance in the first round 🔥 Rep Me’Arah and support her with every purchase of her apparel at the Florida NIL Store! Shop via the link in our bio. 🔗 (Quote via ESPNW/X),” @floridanilstore on Instagram captioned with a couple of emojis.
Thanks to Me’Arah O’Neal’s performance against the Bulldogs, they won by a staggering 18 points, 86-68, to eliminate Mississippi State from the conference postseason and move to the second round. Unfortunately for O’Neal and the rest of the Gators faithful, the Florida-based program was unable to replicate its success in the next round as they faltered to coach Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma Sooners, 82-64.
Me’Arah O’Neal and company finished the 2025-26 campaign with an overall record of 18-15 (5-11 SEC), and were the No. 12 seed in the 2026 SEC standings. Looking to follow in her father’s footsteps, Me’Arah averaged a career-high 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks in her second year of collegiate hoops, and she looks forward to another great season come her junior year.
Shareef O’Neal Opines That Me’Arah O’Neal Is The Best In Their Family
Despite their father being an NBA legend and considered by many as one of the greatest big men of all time, former LSU Tigers swingman Shareef O’Neal has opined that Me’Arah O’Neal is the best player in their family.
Shareef is the older brother of Me’Arah, and he was quoted in the same post by @floridanilstore on Instagram.
“She’s the best hooper in the family,” Shareef O’Neal said.
Read More: Shaquille O’Neal’s Daughter Me’arah Can’t Hold Back the Tears as She Makes Key Observation in Dad’s Instagram ‘Dance’
Also Read: Me’arah O’Neal Offers Heartfelt Support as Alijah Arenas Emerges From Induced Coma
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