Her heart was stronger, it was working better, and she could play the sport she loved. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. and she's like, 'I don't know, I just know. * Daughter of Shaquille ONeal and Shaunie ONeal; Dad played for LSU from 1989-92 and was the No. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant players in NBA history, helping his teams to win NBA Championships and Olympic gold. "All lives can't matter, until Black lives matter," she says in the video, looking directly at the camera. * Nickname is Mimi. Things had to change within the University of Texas, and in America, she said. 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. 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). It was on that last day of spring training that O'Neal's doctor told her that she shouldn't play volleyball anymore. His official bio notes that he only played 10 games during the 2020-2021 season because of a fracture in his foot. On Texas' second set point -- with the fans on their feet -- Gabriel and O'Neal connect on a perfect slide attack, and a smile finally creeps across O'Neal's face after she gets the set-clinching kill. In November, just days after the family had sent Asjia's latest reports to Cleveland Clinic -- the evening Texas played Oklahoma -- Jermaine received an urgent call from Asjia's doctor. Gregory Gym, which is hosting 4,295 people for this Nov. 11, 2021, encounter against Oklahoma, erupts in boos. Highlights of the 6-foot-4 LA's Finest star show that she's already an unstoppable force like her dad. Their . FILE: Amirah "Mimi" O'Neal, pictured third from left in 2018, the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O' Neal and VH1's Basketball Wives' star and executive producer, Shaunie O' Neal, has committed to play basketball at Texas Southern University, according to an Instagram post. However, it was known that they were romantically involved in the '90s and welcomed their first daughter Taahirah O'Neal in 1996. "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. To find out more about the college player and her rising career, read on. At age 14, she received her first college letter, from LSU. In terms of height O'Neal is a . FILE: Amirah "Mimi" O'Neal, pictured third from left in 2018, the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O' Neal and VH1's Basketball Wives' star and executive producer, Shaunie O . While watching O'Neal on the volleyball court, it is easy to forget that just 22 months ago, she could not sit up, let alone elevate her entire body to make a kill. After two heart surgeries, Texas volleyball star finds her power and voice, Previewing the 2023 college baseball season: Teams and players to watch, key storylines. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Nobody expects them to be as large or as dominant as their dad, of course, but Shaq's 13-year-old daughter is making quite the name for herself at a young age. Granger said although TSU leaders are excited, they were not shocked given the success of the university's programs. %link% Shaquille O'Neal's third daughter, Taahirah, 24, is from his relationship with ex Arnetta Yardbourgh. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Catching her breath, Asjia narrated how a routine checkup turned into a nightmare. 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. The former Ozen High star and 14-year NBA vet has more on his mind than basketball, offering essays on life, his family and America. Practice lasted four hours, and at least once a week she couldn't get through it, sometimes feeling so dizzy that she had to be pulled off the court. Shaunie O'Neal - (1998 - 2009) Shaunie O'Neal serving Monday goals. During her junior season she had 509 kills and 121 blocks to lead Southlake Carroll to the Class 6A Region I final. Nobody even asked, really. "I was so young. O'Neal had previously been a walk-on at her father's alma mater, LSU. O'Neal tuned out every word that came out of her doctor's mouth after that. Publish date: Aug 10, 2021 6:37 PM EDT. The weekend before Texas took on Oklahoma, the O'Neals were in Waco to watch Asjia play Baylor. The previous tests hadn't picked up on her deteriorating condition. Shaunie O'Neal was born on November 27, 1974 in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA. The news sent Jermaine and Mesha into a spiral, but Asjia had a much more direct approach. By . / She nudges the ball over the net, and the referee blows the whistle. * Favorite hangout activity shopping, playing video games (Call of Duty), watching TV When the team began doing conditioning and agility training in the sand, she was "blowing through it, beating people in races," O'Neal said. Alex Murdaugh found GUILTY for murder of wife Maggie and son Paul. 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) Shaquille O'Neal Expressed Displeasure Towards Michael B Jordan to 'Aunt' Nischelle Turner . New on campus as a freshman on the Ohio State women's volleyball team in the summer of 2020 . O'Neal took a deep breath, her lungs filling up with fresh air, unhindered by the tubes. The sister of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, died from cancer Thursday at age 40. ", To Asjia, it's all a blur now. Up until that morning, O'Neal felt in control. She watched Koehler's mouth move, but couldn't process a word of the urgent conversation her trainer was having with her doctor. 29.3m Followers, 1,860 Following, 3,725 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from DR. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL Ed.D. O'Neal stands . She committed to the Longhorns during her sophomore year. 1. The moment Sarah Sue Morbitzer's doctors always warned her about arrived at the worst possible time. He had dated Shaunie for four years since 1998 before their marriage which was held on the 26th day of December 2002. But when she returned to campus in July 2020, she could see how she compared to her teammates. 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. In Asjia's case, Najm made an unusual decision. *Terms apply. So, we gotta change that.". Texas' lead shrinks to one, 22-21. He will pass it on to his kids; besides that, his children will feel the impending pressure of carrying that last . BEFORE TEXAS. "And I'm like, 'Well, then why do I feel like this?'". Shaquille O'Neal's 13-year-old daughter, Me'arah, can dunk. A 12-year-old growing up in Southern California, she was born into basketball royalty and is now starting to showcase that n Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal and reality TV star Shaunie O'Neal first got together at the start of the '00s and were married for nine years before they divorced in 2011. are unconfirmed rumors. She has a leaky valve that's making her heart work too hard. Shaquille O'Neal was one of the most powerful and entertaining dunkers in the history of the NBA, and now the big man is passing his talent on to his kids. The point after that, O'Neal blocks the Oklahoma attack, 24-21 Texas. Her siblings appear to confident in O'Neal's eventual commitment decision. Shaq brought all the kids out for this red carpet! O'Neal's voice grows louder toward the end of the sentence, like she really wants people to hear her. Hope you guys enjoy this one as m. The third day, she could walk farther. 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. Me'Arah O'Neal, a four-star prospect in the Class of 2024, is considered one of the top players in her class. After enjoying seven years of marriage, O'Neal and his ex-wife underwent a divorce for reasons best known to them on the 9th day of November 2010. * Favorite food Mexican food. The teen notes in her profile that LSU was one of her top choices partly because her dad played there from 1989 to 1992. O'Neal could be a big-time addition to the LSU Tigers basketball program. Monique Welch was an engagement reporter for the Houston Chronicle. I just know how to do it, it just happens,'" Mesha said. Shaquille O'Neal's 13-year-old daughter, Me'arah, can dunk. Shaquille O'Neal Childhood Photo. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ayesha, who recently appeared in a charity fashion show . Holding her mother's hands tight, she remembered how this hurt after her first surgery, and the tubes were bigger this time. "I heard the word 'volleyball,' and I just wanted to say hello. 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. 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 . The four-time NBA champion went on to reveal the standards his kids must uphold if they want a piece of the O'Neal money pie. Because of it, I'm better.". PrepVolleyball No. "I had tears in my eyes," Jermaine said. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Shaquille O'Neal. And this time the problem was even worse. * Has three brothers, Myles, Shareef and . ", About five hours later he walked out of surgery and said, "It's a success. Her hair blazes behind her as she walks over to her teammates for a high-five. 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 . * Played club ball for LAs Finest. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. On her last day at the hospital, her doctor walked in and said, "This is going to hurt," as he prepared to remove the tubes. 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. 1 team in Texas throughout most this past season. A native Baltimorean and previous Tampa resident, Monique joined the Chronicle in the summer of 2021 after nearly four years at the Tampa Bay Times where she worked on all things digital, launched the newspaper's first race and identity newsletter, Regarding Race, and covered local news. That includes his second eldest daughter, Amirah, who's a basketball star at her father's alma mater, Louisiana State University. On the first day after the operation, she couldn't sit up, couldn't engage her core in any way, and her parents had to sit her up. "The documentary series chronicles Shaq's ascent to superstardom, as a dominant force who won four NBA championships, league MVP honors, and changed the game." "It also encompasses his life off the court, from his upbringing in a military family to his deepest personal . Harrison-Jex had been diagnosed . Before the relationship with Shaunie O'Neal, Shaq was in a relationship with Arnetta Yarbourgh, they have a daughter together too. Recognizing the mannerism ways to get this books Shaquille O Neal The Inspiring Story Of One Of Ba is additionally useful. Her younger brother, Shaqir, second from left, will also play at TSU. But seven years later, just as she was positioned to become an impact player at one of the elite programs, the one thing she wanted to avoid at all costs was staring her right in her face: a life without volleyball. Point Oklahoma. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". ", "Yes, she can finish the season," Asjia remembered Najm saying. All rights reserved. She wrote that she was facing the possibility of never playing volleyball again; now she expects to be back on the court come August. I love seeing people that look like you,' That's so important," O'Neal said. as well as another daughter by an ex-girlfriend. He led several teams to championship victories during his career . His massive 7 foot 1, 350 pound frame g. ONeal, the daughter of former NBA All-Star Jermaine ONeal, wrote on Instagram that countless tests and appointments revealed that her only option was to have surgery. Her older brother Shareef O'Neal posted a video on Twitter Tuesday night of the young baller throwing down on a regulation 10-foot hoop. 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. Shaq never talked much about his split with Shaunie until March 2022. * Honor Roll The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Asjia will play another volleyball season at Texas as she finishes her master's degree in sport management (she finished her undergraduate degree in corporate communications in three years). She was on Southlake Carrolls varsity as a freshman but Southlake coach Ryan Mitchell has brought ONeal along slowly due to the impact overwhelming expectations coming too quickly and after ONeal had to undergo surgery to repair a heart valve as a 13-year-old. HIGH SCHOOL (2016-20) As her future began to take shape, Asjia thought her medical issues were in the past. So the Texas star and daughter of former NBA player Jermaine O'Neal chose open-heart surgery -- twice -- to play the game she loves. "[Asjia] was not able to perform because her heart was not able to [sustain] at that level.". As she waited on the exam table for her doctor, she made small talk with the Texas volleyball team's physical trainer, DeAnn Koehler, who had driven her to the hospital. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider NCAA gymnastics 2023: Who has surprised this season? Amirah ONeals brother Shaqir will be playing for head coach Johnny Jones, who coached Shaq at LSU from 1989 to 1992. The 16-year-old stands 6-foot-3 and has basketball in her blood, obviously. Unlike the rest of the Shaq children, Taahirah isn't involved in basketball. . 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. April 29, 2016 8:35 am ET. She felt the tube leave her body, tears streaming down her face, her chest erupting in pain. "[The] doctors, they're like, 'Oh, it's the same as it always has been,'" O'Neal said. Meet Me'Arah O'Neal. "Athletes, when they are exercising, they convert their cardiac output -- as we call it -- or circulation, they multiply that by at least five times, sometimes more. After her first surgery, she was hesitant to show her scars to the world. 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. 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.". She was previously a walk-on at her fathers alma mater Louisiana State University, but is now the second family member to bring their talents to Houston after her younger brother, Shaqir, announced in May that he was joining TSUs mens basketball program. He also stopped the leak in her tricuspid valve. 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. Took a red shirt in her freshman season. * Favorite music/artist Hip hop and R&B. When O'Neal arrived back on campus, she called her mom from the sidewalk; Mesha O'Neal heard only sobs. " [Tonka] wouldn't have to pay me at all, I'm a Tonka tough . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. HONORS AND AWARDS Would love your thoughts, please comment. ", "If that's how you feel, do what you want with your money," O'Neal says matter-of-factly. ON A SPRING afternoon in Austin, Texas, Asjia O'Neal nonchalantly walked into the Heart Hospital of Austin for her cardiology appointment, a twice-a-year routine she had been keeping most of her life. "They would always try to make me cough things up, but it would hurt so bad to cough because obviously my chest is broken," O'Neal said. 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. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal is a proud father of six kids . Me'arah O'Neal 6'4 2024 is so special @MeArahONeall . HOUSTON - Shaquille O'Neal's children are bringing their hoop dreams to Houston.. (@mearahoneal_). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The mother-daughter duo relocated to . Like many other vocal athletes, O'Neal faced backlash on social media, with comments on her profile like, "I'm never going to buy a ticket again. He was drafted by Portland in the 1996 first round and spent 19 years in the NBA. I'm going to show [my scars], I don't care," O'Neal said. "She has the ability to change [the team's] personality, maybe more than anybody on our team," Elliott said. Shaquille O'Neal's younger daughter Me'Arah O'Neal is making great progress with her basketball game. Shaquille O'Neal, commonly known as just Shaq, 49, . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. As a child of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, great height and basketball are two things that are almost certain in life. He finished with a season-high seven rebounds and season-high nine points on 4-of . One of the parents said, "We flew down here just to see your daughter." . She would have to be awake, no anesthesia to numb the pain. Who is Myles Shaquille O'Neal 's sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex died three years after being diagnosed with cancer on Thursday, his colleagues announced on Thursday's . Award-winning gospel singer and songwriter Yolanda Adams, television personality and former NFL player Michael Strahan, and U.S. Rep. Al Green all call the HBCU their alma mater. "She brings so much energy to the team and we feed off of her all the time.". Were hoping this will be a springboard where other people will take notice and other high-caliber athletes will give TSU and other HBCUs a chance as well.". 2018 Jermaine stopped her and said, "Asjia, you need to settle down and study for the spelling bee if you're going to have any chance of winning it." Regular Season, Playoffs, All-Star) Disney world includes the daughter and grandson of Walt . "It's not safe for you to play volleyball anymore.". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Instead of opening up her heart to replace the valve with a prosthetic one, as would be the norm with cases like hers, Najm re-repaired her mitral valve, removing fibrous tissues around the valve before placing the bigger ring. Extremely blessed to say that I have verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Texas! The next day, she went up on stage and won the title, spelling the word "vegetable" for the championship. They talked about the weather and the upcoming 2019 season, when O'Neal, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker, would make her debut after redshirting her first season with the Longhorns. Today's video covers the career of arguably the most dominant big man in basketball history.Shaquille O'neal, Shaq. But more important than anything, she wants to inspire young girls -- young Black girls -- that anything is possible. UT ends regular season on high note with win over Kansas, UH's basketball rivalry with Memphis could end as soon as Sunday, Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover, Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs. 2 seed until COVID-19 nixed the tournament. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. Sign up for notifications from Insider! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 2023 MLB draft rankings 1.0: Which SEC slugger is No. On the second day, she slowly sat up and walked a few steps with support. And another six weeks of monitoring before her chest bones completely healed. I really want some of my hotties to come to my graduation . The Basketball Hall of Famer's daughter, Amirah O'Neal has committed to play basketball at Texas Southern University. * Cal-Hi Sports Division IV All-State Team Unsurprisingly, a few of Shaq's kids are following in his footsteps by succeeding on the court. "Regardless of my accomplishments on the court, I think just having that imagery for young girls is incredible.". The daughters decision comes four months after her younger brother, Shaqir ONeal, announced to his IG followers that he committed to the same university. Gave birth to her 5th child at age 31, a daughter Mearah Sanaa O'Neal on May 1, 2006. The L.A. event, which featured Zedd, Diplo and Lil Wayne, was a smash success. O'Neal is the daughter for former NBA first-rounder Jermaine O'Neal , who was . "Let's get it over with," she said. Shareef shares details about his basketball careeras well as photos of his familyon his Instagram. (@shaq) At 13, she needed open-heart surgery. She pulls up her shirt and points to three healed holes spaced equidistant below her chest. Outside of basketball, he is known as a family man and is the father of six children. Shaquille O'Neal returned to LSU on Saturday, but it wasn't for him. Privacy Policy 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. 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. As Jermaine sat in the bleachers, he scanned the crowd -- posters carrying Asjia's face and her jersey number peppered the stands. * Why LSU? She could push herself to run 30 minutes on the treadmill, something she couldn't dream of doing before surgery. It was too dangerous for O'Neal to continue. She returned home, working with Koehler remotely to rebuild the soft tissue in her chest. Her doctor entered the room, holding her results in his hands. Took a red shirt in her freshman season. Because O'Neal trained alone at home, it was hard to tell how far she had come in her rehab. In March 2013, two months after the unsettling diagnosis, Asjia landed in Boston at the Children's Hospital for her first open-heart surgery. It would have been impossible to know then, but that bleak hospital visit actually would be cause for chocolate cake. / 2020 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. Asjia was a "big baby," Jermaine said, recollecting her birth, when she arrived with a mitral valve leak, which would require regular cardiology appointments and monitoring. 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 .