If you’re looking for a rising star in basketball, look no further than Shareef O’Neal. This young player has been making waves in the sports world and is quickly becoming a household name. From his impressive high school career to his current journey as a professional athlete, Shareef has captured the attention of fans everywhere. But who is Shareef O’Neal, and why is he such a big deal? In this blog post, we’ll dive into his background, college and professional career, personal life, and the impact he’s making on basketball.
Shareef O’Neal’s Background
Shareef O’Neal was born on January 11, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, United States, and comes from a basketball family. His parents are none other than Shaquille O’Neal, the former NBA player who is one of the most legendary basketball players in history, and Shaunie O’Neal.
With a pedigree like that, it’s no wonder that Shareef is making waves in the sports world. He has two elder half-siblings, Taahirah and Myles, who have undoubtedly greatly influenced his life. And he also has three younger siblings: Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah.
Education
This talented player was privileged to attend Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. His time at Crossroads helped shape him into the player he is today. From mastering his shooting skills to honing his teamwork abilities, Shareef was a force to be reckoned with.
Career: Journey to Basketball
Shareef O’Neal’s journey to basketball greatness started with a little disappointment. At the young age of 13, Shareef began training regularly and dedicating himself to basketball. When he had a disappointing performance at a middle school Amateur Athletic Union game, he decided he wouldn’t let it get him down. Instead, he was motivated to “prove everybody wrong” on the court.
High school career
Starting his freshman year, Shareef was a forward for the school team. Despite limited playing time due to the seniority of his teammates, his highlight videos quickly went viral and earned him a spot in The Washington Post.
Coach Steve Smith saw great potential in Shareef and considered his first year at Windward a “learning year.” He predicted that Shareef would take on a larger role in the following season. True to Coach Smith’s prediction, Shareef’s sophomore year saw significant improvement.
In October 2015, Shareef competed in a tournament at Fairfax High School, showcasing his basketball prowess with an impressive 23-point score against Bishop Alemany. Despite his team’s struggles, Shareef continued to attract attention from scouts at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in December.
In May 2015, Shareef received a scholarship offer from USC, his first offer from an NCAA Division I program. Over the following months, he received additional offers from Baylor, LSU, UCLA, and Kansas State. However, Shareef remained committed to Windward for another year.
On June 29, 2016, the Los Angeles Times announced that O’Neal would transfer to Crossroads School in Santa Monica. Shareef teamed up with top high school recruit Ira Lee and quickly took on a leading role. On January 6, 2017, he scored 15 points in a crucial 54-50 win against Brentwood. In a match against Mater Dei on February 17, Shareef scored 20 points in a thrilling game against Bol Bol, the son of former NBA player Manute Bol.
Recruitment process
In the spring of 2017, Shareef O’Neal committed to playing college basketball for Arizona, but things turned out in early 2018. ESPN alleged that Arizona coach Sean Miller had discussed paying $100,000 to an agent in order to ensure star player Deandre Ayton signed with Arizona.
In light of the allegations, O’Neal quickly de-committed from Arizona. Since he had signed a nonbinding financial aid agreement, he was able to pursue other schools freely. Luckily, on February 27, 2018, he committed to UCLA, but fans had to wait until August for him to sign with the Bruins officially.
College career
Shaquille O’Neal’s career journey through college basketball was a challenging one. During the summer practices, O’Neal began experiencing some health issues, and doctors gave him a heart monitor to wear.
In September 2018, UCLA announced that he would miss the 2018-19 season due to a heart condition that was diagnosed by the medical staff. After undergoing surgery in December, he played in the Drew League and the Bruins’ exhibition game. During practices, he wore a monitoring device for post-surgery research on his heart but did not wear it during games.
Performance in college basketball
O’Neal made his UCLA debut in the 2019-20 season opener, playing for six minutes without scoring against Long Beach State. He had his best game of the season on December 14, 2019, with eight points and a career-high 11 rebounds in a loss against Notre Dame. In April 2019, the UCLA Bruins hired Mick Cronin as their new head coach to replace Steve Alford.
O’Neal’s stint at UCLA was brief, but he showed glimpses of his talent as a reserve player for the Bruins. He averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game. Despite leaving the team with a 9-9 record, O’Neal’s future in basketball remains bright, and his fans eagerly await his next move.
On February 14, 2020, Shareef announced that he would transfer to Louisiana State University, where his father had played college basketball. It was an exciting announcement for the O’Neal family and LSU basketball fans.
Challenges faced during college career
Unfortunately, Shareef suffered a foot injury that kept him from playing in the Tigers’ first few conference games of the 2020-21 season. Despite being limited to just ten games that season, he was able to make an impact on the court. However, once he was able to return, he played in 14 games and averaged 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Despite these setbacks, Shareef remained focused on his goal of making it to the NBA. On June 6, 2022, he declared for the NBA draft, exciting basketball fans everywhere. However, his announcement was not without its share of drama. Shareef was mistakenly placed on the list of early entrants who had withdrawn from the draft, causing some confusion among fans and analysts.
Shareef O’Neal Professional Career
Even though he didn’t get drafted in the 2022 NBA draft, he didn’t let that get him down. Instead, he showed his skills on the court by playing with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022 NBA Summer League. On September 28, 2022, O’Neal signed as a veteran player with the NBA G League Ignite. He’s been making waves since and was recently named to the G League’s inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season.
Shareef O’Neal’s Personal Life
He was born under the zodiac sign Capricorn, known for being ambitious and hardworking. He is also a devout Christian, a big part of his life. Regarding his appearance, Shareef has gorgeous brown eyes that light up any room and luscious black hair that always looks on point. And last, he stands tall at an impressive 6ft 9 inches.
Relationship
Shareef O’Neal is currently enjoying a single life.
Hobbies and interest
When he’s not dominating on the basketball court, you can find Shareef O’Neal indulging in his love for movies and video games and even creating mixtapes and short films. He has some great taste in movies, and his favorites include ‘Unbroken,’ ‘Creed 2’, and ‘The Revenant.’ Music is a huge part of his life too. He believes music has helped him through some tough times, and he often records songs at his friends’ studios.
Philanthropy
Shareef O’Neal has announced that he will donate some of the proceeds from his recent NFT deal with NFT Genius to the American Heart Association. The initiative is especially meaningful to Shareef, as he was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2018 and underwent heart surgery that same year.
Social media
Shareef O’Neal is a social media sensation with a huge following. His TikTok handle is @ssjreef, and he has 1.6 million followers, while on Twitter, he goes by @SSJreef and has a whopping 352.6k followers. And let’s remember his Instagram account, where he has 2.8 million followers under the handle @shareefoneal.
Shareef O’Neal’s Net Worth
Shareef O’Neal has built an impressive fortune for himself and is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $5 million.
Conclusion
Shareef O’Neal is a young and talented basketball player who is making a name for himself both on and off the court. With his dedication to his craft, love of music, and charitable spirit, it’s no wonder he has amassed such a large following on social media. From his impressive basketball skills to his NFT deals and philanthropic efforts, Shareef is truly a multi-talented individual. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this rising star and look forward to watching him continue to make a positive impact both on and off the court.
