"Obviously they come from that bloodline and what (Shaq) was able to accomplish in basketball, we expect you have a great knowledge and understanding of how to play the game of basketball.". "There's been some changes," he began. Her heart was stronger, it was working better, and she could play the sport she loved. Shaquille O'Neal is an American former professional basketball player who had a very successful NBA career starting in 1992. At 15, when she saw Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott at several of her matches, her excitement grew. as well as other partner offers and accept our. She had a congenital heart condition, but she didn't want to use it as an excuse, so she pushed herself, sometimes to the brink, before Koehler noticed her struggling and made her leave the court. O'Neal could be a big-time addition to the LSU Tigers basketball program. 1 overall? Values are based on current season type (i.e. Dr. Najm replaced it with the "biggest ring" he's ever "put on a woman before," Mesha remembered Najm saying. Me'arah is still too young to commit to play in college, but given her height, her basketball genes, and her ability to dominate the post and drain shots from range, there's little doubt she'll have offers rolling in soon. She organized meetings with the volleyball staff and her teammates. As of March 2023, Shaquille O'Neal's net worth is roughly $400 Million, making him one of the richest athletes in the world. are unconfirmed rumors. And another six weeks of monitoring before her chest bones completely healed. Also, Shaq has a daughter called Taahirah, with whom he had with his ex . Shaquille O'Neal's wife and kids are Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me'arah. "She's not talking about surgery. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. He took Asjia with him to most every game, and by the time she walked and talked, she was on TV, in her father's arms, celebrating his career with him. Since his father Toney got arrested due to drug possession when Shaquille was still an infant, he relinquished his parental rights to O'Neal's stepfather, Phillip A Harrison, who was a sergeant in the Army. Played in 28 matches during the 2021 seasonfinished second on the team with 114 total blocks and led the Longhorns with 16 solo blockssecond on the team with a .383 hitting percentage and was third with 266 pointsfinished with 170 kills, the fifth-most on the teamthird on the team with 31 service acestied career high with nine blocks in back-to-back matches at Iowa State (10/21-22). NCAA volleyball tournament: Breaking down the bracket, predictions and more, Kim Mulkey's crossroads: Her Baylor past, her LSU present and why she's not apologizing for any of it, Violent dust storms and 135 miles: Inside the world's most impossible run. "Let's get it over with," she said. O'Neal's right foot had landed on the Sooners' side of the net as she nudged the ball over. As I wached another of those endless run of commercials this morning featuring Shaquille O'Neal speaking to a cartoon general, with the ex-NBA player hawking auto insurance, I was struck by not only how many commercials Shaq makes, but the wide, random, range of companies that he has endorsed.. O'Neal has spoken on behalf of -- to name just a few -- a sleep apnea mask, a sugar substitute . This journey has made me truly grateful for the ability to play the game I love and lit a fire inside of me that yall aint seen yet. BEFORE TEXAS. Holding her mother's hands tight, she remembered how this hurt after her first surgery, and the tubes were bigger this time. ", To Asjia, it's all a blur now. He's also a forward at LSU, just on the men's team. The father-of-six says he's been playing with Tonka's trucks "since the seventies" and buying them for his own children since the 90s. In Asjia's case, Najm made an unusual decision. "Was there anything that we should be looking out for or pulling her back on? Two families who traveled from Indianapolis and Kansas City introduced themselves to Jermaine. Accompanying her . Jermaine ONeal played on multiple NBA teams and was multiple year all star after being one of the nations early high school phenoms in South Carolina. In silence, she stood up and walked with Koehler to the car. "But I thought this might just be the reality of me playing sports. 10:26 am. In the time sense, Shaq's opened up about his marital mistakes and fans have . Teaching them . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Just as she began to feel like this might be her sport, she received some shocking news during a cardiology appointment in Boston: Her mitral valve leak had gotten worse in the past year. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Me'Arah O'Neal, the youngest daughter of Shaquille O'Neal and Shaunie Nelson is the latest basketball sensation in the O'Neal household. Her siblings appear to confident in O'Neal's eventual commitment decision. 2023 The University of Texas at Austin Athletics, J. Dan Brown Family Player Development Center. ", "You just had your whole chest open, and you're already back," Gabriel recalled telling O'Neal. By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from Rolling Out and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy. Me'arah, who is the youngest of Shaq's five children, plays for LA's Finest, according to Rivals.com. She changed into a hospital gown, lay down, and a nurse administered an echocardiogram and an EKG, tests to check the rhythm and structure of her heart and its electrical signals. "In the perfect world, I'd like them to have a bachelor's and master's and [be] going into their own field.". But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I see the doubt in they faces, they didnt think I would make it, she wrote in the caption. Amirah O'Neal (Image source: Instagram - @amirahoneal) Amirah O'Neal, the daughter of NBA legend and Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, has announced that she is . Shaquille O'Neal's third daughter, Taahirah, 24, is from his relationship with ex Arnetta Yardbourgh. As Asjia wraps up the story of her second surgery, she puts down her spoon, her gel manicure (with a white squiggly line design), glinting in the sunlight. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Asjia fell in love with volleyball in 2012 -- when she was in seventh grade -- after the O'Neals moved to Dallas, where volleyball was a hugely popular sport. The 72-year-old Toney played high school basketball and received the All-State guard title. A 2024 prospect, her recruiting has taken off as of late, and getting down to Baton Rouge was clearly of the utmost importance. It does not store any personal data. "At 22, she is more equipped, she can use her voice to make this world a better place. Meet Me'Arah O'Neal. * Daughter of Shaquille O'Neal and Shaunie O'Neal; Dad played for LSU from 1989-92 and was the No. Texas reached the NCAA final under coach Jerritt Elliott last December and lost to Nebraska in Omaha in the championship match. LSU Athletics, Louisiana State University, 2023. O'Neal and his ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal share four children together: sons Shareef and Shaqir and daughters Amirah and Me'arah. In between bites of her banana and strawberry protein bowl, she shares her story, her hands moving animatedly as she recounts her journey. Southlake Carroll junior Asjia O'Neal spikes the ball during a match on September 20, 2016. She committed to the Longhorns during her sophomore year. "She has the ability to change [the team's] personality, maybe more than anybody on our team," Elliott said. Amirah just finished her freshman year at LSU, where she plays forward. Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter, See LeBron James' 16-Year-Old Son, Who's Already a Basketball Star, See The Rock's 19-Year-Old Daughter, Who's Climbing Up the WWE Ranks, Dennis Rodman's 18-Year-Old Daughter Just Made Sports History Twice, Women who had ovarian cysts share their stories, A sugar replacement may be linked to heart attacks and strokes, but don't throw it out yet. I'm going to show [my scars], I don't care," O'Neal said. "She said what needed to be said.". "It speaks volumes for our program and where we are, and were thankful that the ONeals have the confidence in us to trust us with their son and daughter. . Shaquille O' Neal disclosed the importance of hard work, education, and how he instilled those core values into his six children, whose ages range from 16 to 24, on July 6 during a discussion . * Favorite music/artist Hip hop and R&B. As her future began to take shape, Asjia thought her medical issues were in the past. Who is available? The moment Sarah Sue Morbitzer's doctors always warned her about arrived at the worst possible time. She made the announcement to her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram. ", "He said, 'Look, she can go as far as she can take herself, she's completely fine to push herself.'". "She will never know how bad she felt until she feels as good as she's going to feel now.". You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 2018 First she walked on the treadmill, then she jogged, then she jogged on an incline, building her cardiovascular strength. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, Former Southlake Carroll volleyball player Asjia ONeal, now at Texas, reveals she had second heart surgery, then-Carroll head coach Ryan Mitchell said at the time, Frisco Liberty battles back vs. Lubbock Cooper to claim UIL Class 5A state championship, Boys basketball playoffs (6A): Lake Highlands breaks state drought; DeSoto advances, Boys basketball playoffs (5A): Kimball reaches state; Mansfield Summit clinches berth, 2023 UIL girls state basketball: Schedule, previews and more for Dallas-area teams, DeSotos chase for third straight title continues after rout of Pearland in 6A semifinals, Big 12 tournament bracket revealed; Check out paths for Texas, Baylor, others. NCAA Infractions Decision, Crossroads School for the Arts & Sciences. Jermaine had set up a home gym, and she liked training on her own timeline. The doctors operated on Asjia for five hours, stopping the leak and then closing her chest. Things had to change within the University of Texas, and in America, she said. The sports royalty proposed to Shaunie on 30th June 2000 and exchanged their nuptials in an extravagant ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel on 26th December 2002. However, admittedly, the thought of the man asking his adorable daughter for it, and her begrudgingly giving it to him is a fun thought to have. "We'll figure this out," Gabriel said, handing O'Neal a piece of chocolate cake they had brought back from the Longhorns' last-day-of-spring-training celebration. A HOUSTON CHRONICLE INVESTIGATION:A history of funding failures at Texas HBCUs. "Regardless of my accomplishments on the court, I think just having that imagery for young girls is incredible.". "It was amazing to watch her speak -- she didn't care about hurting anybody's feelings," Gabriel said. Her voice helped spark important changes on campus. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She felt the tube leave her body, tears streaming down her face, her chest erupting in pain. During her freshman year at Crossroads, O'Neal started all 24 games, averaging 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. Midway through a cartwheel, Asjia said, "Dad, I'm going to win it." O'Neal stands . Asjia O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Southlake Carroll (Southlake TX), Texas, Girls Volleyball, NFHS Network's Weekly Top 10 Basketball Highlights, 3 Texas schools in the lead for 4-star Longview RB Taylor Tatum, Watch: Pete Carroll emphasizes vital importance of multi-sport backgrounds, https://usatodayhss.com/2016/former-prep-superstar-jermaine-oneals-daughter-asjia-commits-to-texas-volleyball, Former prep superstar Jermaine O'Neal's daughter Asjia commits to Texas volleyball. %link% But doctors told the O'Neal family that Asjia could lead an otherwise normal life. / Amirah is a 6-foot, 1-inch forward who averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior in high school, according to LSUs website. 2019: VolleyballMag.com All-Freshman Honorable MentionBig 12 Rookie of the Week (Nov. 4, 2019)Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. And this time the problem was even worse. Joseph Hoyt, Staff Writer. "[Asjia] was not able to perform because her heart was not able to [sustain] at that level.". " [Tonka] wouldn't have to pay me at all, I'm a Tonka tough . I have done this before, and this too shall pass, she kept telling herself. 2019 * Honor Roll Brand Guidelines Copyright 2022 Rolling Out. "Seeing little girls come up to me and they're not just of one background, not just white girls, and they're like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm so inspired to be you. There have been models, actresses, and reality TV personalities Flavor of Love 's Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander being among the most high profile of Shaq's girlfriends. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Played in 26 matches and 93 sets put down 125 kills, at 1.34 per set and hit .365 on the season She added 93 (7/86) blocks on the year with 35 digs and 22 aces put down a career-best nine kills, hitting .500 and adding four blocks against Rice (9/18) post an 8-0-8, 1.000 hitting line against West Virginia with seven blocks, two aces and two digs (10/19) recorded a career-best eight blocks against Kansas (11/23). His official bio notes that he only played 10 games during the 2020-2021 season because of a fracture in his foot. "Honestly, growing up even, you didn't go to girls' games. To find out more about the college player and her rising career, read on. Ayesha, who recently appeared in a charity fashion show . 2 recruit named to the USA Junior Nationals All-Tournament Team for three consecutive years (2015, 16, 17) 2017 USA Open National Champion 2016 7-6A MVP of Southlake Carroll High School . Ayesha Harrison Jex, the sister of basketball great Shaquille O'Neal, has tragically died at the age of 40. "Asjia is a spitting image of me, but she is better -- a much better version of me," said Jermaine, who went straight from high school to the NBA. Shaquille O'Neal said on his podcast, "The Big Podcast with Shaq," that he was a "serial cheater" and the affairs cost him valuable time with his kids. * Favorite hangout activity shopping, playing video games (Call of Duty), watching TV Arnetta became Shaquille's girlfriend officially after Taahirah's birth. Amirah O'Neal, the daughter of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, announced her college basketball commitment Thursday to her father's alma mater LSU.. She posted the decision on Instagram.Her brother . ASJIA O'NEAL HAS always been a regular at big arenas. Published on October 25, 2019 10:02 AM. Previously he covered high school sports for The News. The daughters decision comes four months after her younger brother, Shaqir ONeal, announced to his IG followers that he committed to the same university. O'Neal took a deep breath, her lungs filling up with fresh air, unhindered by the tubes. After a quick break, the doctor went in again, and then again. "[The] doctors, they're like, 'Oh, it's the same as it always has been,'" O'Neal said. She joins a team, led by former WNBA Houston Comets star Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, that finished 20-10 in its 2019-20 season and was headed to the SWAC Championship as the No. Harrison-Jex had been diagnosed . In June, O'Neal received the Honda Inspiration Award, an honor given to student-athletes who have experienced extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity. Before the relationship with Shaunie O'Neal, Shaq was in a relationship with Arnetta Yarbourgh, they have a daughter together too. She said that she hopes they can, and that she intends to keep supporting female players by promoting their achievements and getting new fans involved. Texas' lead shrinks to one, 22-21. Website: www.shaq.com, Youtube:. But when she returned to campus in July 2020, she could see how she compared to her teammates. Played in all 29 matches and all 100 of 102 sets during the 2020 seasonfinished second in the Big 12 Conference with a .411 hitting percentage and was sixth in the league with 1.13 blocks per setranked third on the team with 222 total kills and second with 113 total blockshad a season-high 14 kills in the win at Kansas State (10/16)had a dominant performance in the NCAA Second Round match against Wright State (4/15) with a season-high nine total blocksfinished with double-digit kills in three of the five NCAA Tournament matches, including 13 in the win over Penn State (4/18). "I had no idea, because it was the same protocol -- some days I would feel bad, some days I would feel better," said Asjia, who had a .413 hitting percentage and averaged 1.48 kills per set through the first 19 matches of that 2019 season. ONeal has starred in AAU summer competitions for several years. SHAQUILLE O'Neal is arguably one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time. The intensity of her volleyball training was the likely cause, her doctors told her parents. More viscerally, Asjia was willing to open her heart -- twice -- to ensure that. She pulls up her shirt and points to three healed holes spaced equidistant below her chest. When she was a toddler, her father, Jermaine O'Neal, was at the peak of his 18-season NBA career. She had 125 kills, 93 blocks, 35 digs and 22 aces. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. But today, she embraces them, both on her social media and in real life. Any long cardio exercises -- running on the treadmill or pedaling -- were out of the question. As soon as the doctors left the room, Asjia turned to her parents and said, "I just want to finish out the season. The L.A. event, which featured Zedd, Diplo and Lil Wayne, was a smash success. Shareef O'Neal, Me'arah's older brother, originally posted the video on Twitter with the caption, "So my 13 year old sister is a cheat code.". Her doctor entered the room, holding her results in his hands. She couldn't bring herself to respond. Hope you guys enjoy this one as m. ONeal is the daughter for former NBA first-rounder Jermaine ONeal , who was one of the first players to go directly to the NBA from high school. His recommendation to walk away from volleyball only strengthened O'Neal's resolve to stay on the court, prompting Asjia and her family to look hard for alternate solutions. Her older sister Amirah O'Neal can play too. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. Shaquille O'Neal and Shaqir O'Neal attend the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on TNT at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. Shaq's relationship with his ex-wife Shaunie started in 1997 and ended up after nine years of their marriage. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: A violation is called. Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu who had a close relationship with Kobe and Gigi Bryant made NCAA history hours after eulogizing her mentor and mentee, Here's why James Harden's controversial Euro step that everyone is calling a travel was actually completely legal, President of US Soccer once admitted USWNT had 'not been treated equally' despite arguing for dismissal of their gender discrimination lawsuit, Kobe Bryant fans looking to pay their respects to the NBA legend are visiting the wrong grave. Basketball world mourns loss of the Orlando native. 7, the same number her dad wore for most of his career, she stares at her opponents, her palm wide open, a nonchalant shrug. At every level of basketball, Shaquille O'Neal dominated. She also earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors once and was named a Freshman All-American by VolleyballMag.com. (@mearahoneal_). The . Shaunie O'Neal was born on November 27, 1974 in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA. At Carroll, ONeal played on varsity from her freshman season through her junior year. Asjia ONeal, a former star Southlake Carroll volleyball player now playing at Texas, announced Wednesday that shes recovering from her second open-heart surgery in seven years. There are no statistics available for this player. Highlights of the 6-foot-4 LA's Finest star show that she's already an unstoppable force like her dad. In 2002, the former NBA player married Shaunie O'Neal, a reality television star, but later divorced. As she went under, O'Neal remembered hearing "Started from the Bottom," a song her nurses picked for her when she told them she loved Drake. She surprised herself by not just leading her team in conversations about racial justice, but also taking those conversations to various communities within UT. Took a red shirt in her freshman season. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. (Mesha has missed only one home game this season, and she sent over her parents to watch her daughter play that day.). O'Neal's mitral valve leak -- a condition she was born with that redirected blood back into her atrium rather than out to her ventricle, a condition that forced her heart to work extra hard to pump enough blood in the right direction, a condition that she already had undergone one surgery to correct -- had gotten worse, the doctor explained. By WFAA | All the while, Asjia was hooked up to a heart-lung machine to keep her blood flowing while her heart was stopped so Najm could repair her valves. Today's video covers the career of arguably the most dominant big man in basketball history.Shaquille O'neal, Shaq. Aug 03, 2021. At age 14, she received her first college letter, from LSU. Asjia needed to get to Cleveland as soon as possible for an MRI. Elliott, his mask halfway down, walks over to the referee to talk. * O the places I will go Dubai. * Daughter of Shaquille ONeal and Shaunie ONeal; Dad played for LSU from 1989-92 and was the No. Doctors told Asjia O'Neal it was too dangerous to play volleyball. I really want some of my hotties to come to my graduation . Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. BEFORE TEXAS 2021: VolleyballMag.com Fourth Team All-AmericanAVCA All-Southwest RegionFirst Team All-Big 12First Team Academic All-Big 12Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 26) ", "I felt that I had produced a good piece of art that is going to last long," he said. The two have three sons Myles, 24, Shareef, 21, and Shaqir, 18and two daughters Amirah, 19, and . While they're no longer a couple, they still share five children. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal discussed his 2011 divorce from ex-wife Shaunie Nelson on a podcast on Tuesday. * Started playing basketball at age 10. According to her official university profile, she scored an average of 17.2 points a game during her junior year of high school at the Crossroads School for the Arts&Sciences. "I want them to have most of those goals, and once they get 18 on and they become little mini-adults, I'm not going to be the dad that says, 'Do this, do that.' All along, she was plotting her comeback. He currently works as a sports analyst on a tv program named Inside the NBA.. Often regarded as one of the greatest basketball players, Shaquille led his teams to the NBA playoffs every season except for a few ones. ", When they walked into Najm's office, they asked, almost in unison, "Could she finish the season? Me'arah O'Neal 6'4 2024 is so special @MeArahONeall . O'Neal's voice grows louder toward the end of the sentence, like she really wants people to hear her. as well as another daughter by an ex-girlfriend. Shaquille O'Neal Expressed Displeasure Towards Michael B Jordan to 'Aunt' Nischelle Turner . When the team began doing conditioning and agility training in the sand, she was "blowing through it, beating people in races," O'Neal said. "I had tears in my eyes," Jermaine said. "I think it's important to tell my story and acknowledge that it happened. O'Neal looks at the official who made the call, her face scrunched up, her palms wide open, What was that about? "She can get pretty feisty, and she can get pretty competitive -- and we need that.". When O'Neal was in infancy, his father, Toney, who was an addict was convicted and sent to . O'Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey, to parents Lucille O'Neal and Joe Toney on March 6, 1972, making him 11 years older than the Chicago Fire actor. She returned home, working with Koehler remotely to rebuild the soft tissue in her chest. Nobody even asked, really. ", About five hours later he walked out of surgery and said, "It's a success. After a day of exhaustive tests, which included injecting dye into her heart to see the direction of the blood flow, and other athletic tests to monitor her heart at the highest exertion levels, her doctors confirmed the O'Neal family's fears. Recognizing the mannerism ways to get this books Shaquille O Neal The Inspiring Story Of One Of Ba is additionally useful. She could push herself to run 30 minutes on the treadmill, something she couldn't dream of doing before surgery. Read also. She didn't miss a game in 2020, returning to action eight months after surgery and finishing the season with 222 kills and 113 blocks. And that empowered athlete would become an ever more influential person in arenas that matter far more than the Longhorns' Gregory Gymnasium.