O'Neal and his ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal share four children together: sons Shareef and Shaqir and daughters Amirah and Me'arah. Now, she's somewhere in the high 90s. In order to monitor O'Neal's heart and to compare her to people without a heart condition, her teammates wore heart monitors during practice. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: ASJIA O'NEAL LIFTS into the air, but the set by Jhenna Gabriel is tight. Point Oklahoma. 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. Next up is Rice (20-6) on Friday. Aug 03, 2021. Asjia ONeal has been a national volleyball star since middle school. * Has three brothers, Myles, Shareef and Shaqir, and two sisters, Taahirah and Mearah; Shareef will be a member of the LSU mens basketball team in 2020-21. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Shaquille O'Neal. 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. "It was amazing to watch her speak -- she didn't care about hurting anybody's feelings," Gabriel said. * Averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior. Check out Shaq's dating history over the . ", "He said, 'Look, she can go as far as she can take herself, she's completely fine to push herself.'". Three days later they had an appointment booked at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, which has consistently ranked No. In March 2013, two months after the unsettling diagnosis, Asjia landed in Boston at the Children's Hospital for her first open-heart surgery. 7, the same number her dad wore for most of his career, she stares at her opponents, her palm wide open, a nonchalant shrug. His tenure in the NBA stretched for nearly 20 years. "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. 2 overall seed and opened the tournament with a sweep of Sacred Heart at home. The . Last October, Shaq told Us Weekly that he tried to instill in his kids that school should be their top priority so that they can be "fully educated" and "fully independent" adults. 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." 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. The level at which Texas played was so much higher than what she was used to, but all the other freshmen did it, so why couldn't she? 2018 She was the definition of athletic, but she had such grace, such fluidity about her. A fan walks over and interrupts our conversation. 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. Amirah has committed to LSU with her elder brother Shareef O'Neal on April 16 of 2020. "We're going to get a second opinion," Mesha said forcefully into the phone. Values are based on current season type (i.e. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. New on campus as a freshman on the Ohio State women's volleyball team in the summer of 2020 . Shaquille O'Neal . "Like it was just -- it was crazy.". And the intensity of volleyball was putting too much stress on her cardiovascular system. The No. "She never wanted to accept that her heart [condition] prevented her from doing certain things that other people could easily do," Mesha said. What supplements should we really be taking? We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. * Has three brothers, Myles, Shareef and . Her doctor entered the room, holding her results in his hands. The next point, O'Neal gets a kill on an Oklahoma over-pass. 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. Shaunie O'Neal was born on November 27, 1974 in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA. At age 14, she received her first college letter, from LSU. Also, Shaq has a daughter called Taahirah, with whom he had with his ex . Shortly after she was cleared to return to the gym, the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports. "[Asjia] was not able to perform because her heart was not able to [sustain] at that level.". 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 . "College coaches are already calling about her. She receives messages from Black mothers on social media talking about how their kids want to play volleyball after watching her on the court. Point Oklahoma. A few minutes later, she heard the doctor ask her if she would consider other, less intense, sports. 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. "She can get pretty feisty, and she can get pretty competitive -- and we need that.". She had an intuition on the court that amazed coaches. O'Neal looks at the official who made the call, her face scrunched up, her palms wide open, What was that about? In 2002, the former NBA player married Shaunie O'Neal, a reality television star, but later divorced. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. "This is it? / CSUN's Merren, East Bay's Smith win CalHOPE, New NCAA president readies for NIL, legal issues, Tennessee coach Vitello to return after suspension, No. In 2002, two years after Asjia was born, O'Neal was named the league's most improved player, charming fans with his outgoing personality and tantalizing promise with the Indiana Pacers. What she believes in as an African American, Black woman -- be powerful about that -- speak about it in an educated way. Shaquille O'Neal's 2009 divorce to ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal played out in the headlines and surprised many fans. It's literally one more month. I love seeing people that look like you,' That's so important," O'Neal said. TSU did finish last season with a 5-10 record during the pandemic-ravaged season. Shaquille O'Neal's third daughter, Taahirah, 24, is from his relationship with ex Arnetta Yardbourgh. She hugged her family, her coach and her trainer before getting wheeled away. As Jermaine sat in the bleachers, he scanned the crowd -- posters carrying Asjia's face and her jersey number peppered the stands. O'Neal is the daughter for former NBA first-rounder Jermaine O'Neal , who was . O'Neal had previously been a walk-on at her father's alma mater, LSU. HIGH SCHOOL (2016-20) LSU Athletics, Louisiana State University, 2023. * Honor Roll We wish her the best of luck.. The Longhorns (25-1), who also made it to the NCAA finals in 2015 and 2016, are the No. She began holding her bottle at 2 months, with "these big hands," as Jermaine recalled, and walked and talked before she even turned 1, at about 8 months old. Kevin Granger, the vice president of intercollegiate athletics at TSU, said it's a win to have two O' Neals at the institution. 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. * Attended Crossroads for three years before being homeschooled in 2019-20. 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. She was no longer 13, and they were reopening the same incision and using a bone saw to cut open her chest. Ayesha Harrison Jex, the sister of basketball great Shaquille O'Neal, has tragically died at the age of 40. The two have three sonsMyles, 24, Shareef, 21, and Shaqir, 18and two daughtersAmirah, 19, and Me'arah, 15. After a quick break, the doctor went in again, and then again. 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. Asjia hung up and walked in a daze to her dorm room, where her teammates and friends Jhenna Gabriel and Logan Eggleston were waiting. After the death of George Floyd, O'Neal felt a similar need to be heard. "It's not safe for you to play volleyball anymore.". 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. I'm going to show [my scars], I don't care," O'Neal said. 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.". "Weve positioned ourselves to attract high recruits," he said. In the 2019 season, Amirah averaged 17.2 points per game. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Shaquille O'Neal's wife and kids are Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me'arah. And she wants some of her fans to attend. Amirah's little sister, Me'arah (left) is a rising sophomore at Crossroads School, where she plays basketball. Shaquille O'Neal is an American former professional basketball player who had a very successful NBA career starting in 1992. Then she wants to play professionally overseas. Shaq brought all the kids out for this red carpet! Asjia needed to get to Cleveland as soon as possible for an MRI. She couldn't bring herself to respond. 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. "I think it's important to tell my story and acknowledge that it happened. "Let's get it over with," she said. as well as another daughter by an ex-girlfriend. Though his wife Shaunie was missing, all five of their kids with him at the 'Uncle Drew' world premiere in New York on June 26, 2018. While speaking to BallIsLife, Shaunie was asked if she thought her daughters could help raise the profile of women's basketball. While they're no longer a couple, they still share five children. Amirah is a 6'1 post player who averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior during the 2018-2019 season as a junior. Then he calls captain Logan Eggleston to run over to question the call. In between bites of her banana and strawberry protein bowl, she shares her story, her hands moving animatedly as she recounts her journey. During one of her first days at school, two girls asked her if she'd ever thought about playing volleyball. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2020: 2020 Honda Inspiration Award winnerAVCA Honorable Mention All-AmericanAVCA All-Southwest RegionFirst Team All-Big 12First Team Academic All-Big 12 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Hook Em! pic.twitter.com/qZyGv1ESgr, Asjia O'Neal (@asjiaoneal) April 27, 2016. 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. On the second day, she slowly sat up and walked a few steps with support. 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. "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. Stay up to date with what you want to know. I see the doubt in they faces, they didnt think I would make it, she wrote in the caption. Southlake Carroll junior Asjia O'Neal spikes the ball during a match on September 20, 2016. It was on that last day of spring training that O'Neal's doctor told her that she shouldn't play volleyball anymore. UT is also erecting a statue of Heman M. Sweatt, the first Black student admitted into the UT Law School, who fought and won a Supreme Court case that paved the way for desegregation at colleges and universities across the country. ON THE MORNING of Jan. 14, 2020, two months before the pandemic shut down the country, O'Neal was wheeled into the operating room, with her parents, her brother, Koehler and coach Elliott by her side. But when she returned to campus in July 2020, she could see how she compared to her teammates. 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. "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. (@mearahoneal_). 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. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. By . PrepVolleyball No. (@shaq) RELATED: See LeBron James' 16-Year-Old Son, Who's Already a Basketball Star. O'Neal's right foot had landed on the Sooners' side of the net as she nudged the ball over. The sister of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, died from cancer Thursday at age 40. She was a middle schooler and didn't want to draw attention to her differences. * Daughter of Shaquille O'Neal and Shaunie O'Neal; Dad played for LSU from 1989-92 and was the No. 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. Brand Guidelines 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. It didn't feel like this was her game, like this was what she was meant to do. * Daughter of Shaquille ONeal and Shaunie ONeal; Dad played for LSU from 1989-92 and was the No. When O'Neal awoke, the clock in front of her bed read 10 p.m., and her throat was on fire. Extremely blessed to say that I have verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Texas! She also earned the 2019 MaxPreps California All-State Girls Team honorable mention and is a two-time All-State honoree. Meet Me'Arah O'Neal. "She said what needed to be said.". "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. The 16-year-old stands 6-foot-3 and has basketball in her blood, obviously. Her older sister Amirah O'Neal can play too. As of March 2023, Shaquille O'Neal's net worth is roughly $400 Million, making him one of the richest athletes in the world. Shaquille O'Neal Childhood Photo. The monitors revealed how hard her heart was working to allow her to play. are unconfirmed rumors. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. 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. ", To Asjia, it's all a blur now. "All the hard days and hard nights to be put in that position that's special," Jermaine said. "We have a purpose and that's what we're standing by, and if that offends you then you're entitled to your opinion, but get on the train or get off the train.". Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most famous basketball players of all time. 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. * Likes to drawing, painting and cooking. NCAA Infractions Decision, Crossroads School for the Arts & Sciences. "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 . And another six weeks of monitoring before her chest bones completely healed. a daughter Amirah Sanaa O'Neal, with her boyfriend (now ex-husband), . will be playing for head coach Johnny Jones, who coached Shaq at LSU from 1989 to 1992. MeArah ONeal, a four-star prospect in the Class of 2024, is one of the top prospects in her class. "Regardless of my accomplishments on the court, I think just having that imagery for young girls is incredible.". (Mesha has missed only one home game this season, and she sent over her parents to watch her daughter play that day.). 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. She doesn't care what the score is. Shaquille O'Neal's daughter has now received two scholarship offers from Division I programs. Robert Lee Moore Hall -- named after a mathematician known for his racist treatment of African American students at Texas -- was renamed the Physics, Math and Astronomy Building. Now 8 days post op Im feeling better and doing more each day, ONeal wrote, and while I know the road to recovery is gonna be a long and hard one Im ready and cant wait to be back on the court in August. We got to spend a day with Shaqir O'Neal at his insane Atlanta mansion where we also got a few surprises from Shaq himself! She was also named to the MaxPreps 2018-19 California All-Division 3 Second Team. / Shes going to do some great things at Texas. "MOM, SOMETHING IS very wrong. "Honestly, growing up even, you didn't go to girls' games. Grammy-award winning rapper and Houston native Megan Thee Stallion is also a TSU student and intends to join the list of alumni soon, after she recently confirmed her anticipated fall graduation. 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. In silence, she stood up and walked with Koehler to the car. She asked him to train her during the summer after fourth grade, but something didn't feel right. Mesha is sitting next to her eating a salad, and even though she knows Asjia's story intimately, she's paying close attention, nodding at times, and adding her perspective here and there. . "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.". Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. ", Said Koehler: "She was playing at a low 60% capacity before the surgery. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. She had a lot to learn -- volleyball's rules were "weird" -- but she loved the intensity, the ability to work closely with her teammates when the ball was in the air and the speed of the game. A video surfaced online Tuesday night of O'Neal's 13-year-old daughter, Me'arah O'Neal, dunking on a regulation 10-foot hoop in what appears to be a home gym. 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. ", "I felt that I had produced a good piece of art that is going to last long," he said. In terms of height O'Neal is a . He had dated Shaunie for four years since 1998 before their marriage which was held on the 26th day of December 2002. Shaquille O'Neal's annual Super Bowl party, 'Shaq's Fun House,' reflects its host fun, welcoming and engaging. His official bio notes that he only played 10 games during the 2020-2021 season because of a fracture in his foot. Shaq's 13-Year-Old Daughter is Almost Dunking. As a child of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, great height and basketball are two things that are almost certain in life. Instead . He's also a forward at LSU, just on the men's team. In addition, UT erected a statue of the Longhorns' first Black football letterman, Julius Whittier, and it renamed Joe Jamail Field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to Campbell-Williams Field, after Texas' two Black Heisman Trophy running backs, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. As her future began to take shape, Asjia thought her medical issues were in the past. When the team began doing conditioning and agility training in the sand, she was "blowing through it, beating people in races," O'Neal said. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant players in NBA history, helping his teams to win NBA Championships and Olympic gold. Midway through a cartwheel, Asjia said, "Dad, I'm going to win it." Asjia is the daughter of former NBA All-Star Jermaine O'Neal. 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 TGCA All-Star named to the Northwest ISD Volleyball Classic, Ann Kang Invitational, and Lone Star Circle of Champions All-Tournament Teams 2015 VYPE Player of the Year 2015 Allen Texas Open All-Tournament Team. Basketball world mourns loss of the Orlando native. 3 Tennessee suspends baseball coach Vitello, FSU AD: Lagging ACC revenue 'has to change', Huskers volleyball set for outdoors to spike crowd, Road to the men's Frozen Four: Conference tournaments at a glance, College softball rankings: The top 25 teams in the NCAA this week, Previewing the 2023 college softball season: Players you need to watch, key storylines and WCWS predictions. She stared at him blankly, her mouth glued shut. It was too dangerous for O'Neal to continue. However, it was known that they were romantically involved in the '90s and welcomed their first daughter Taahirah O'Neal in 1996. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. As soon as she was cleared to play, she was back on the volleyball court. Gregory Gym, which is hosting 4,295 people for this Nov. 11, 2021, encounter against Oklahoma, erupts in boos. Now, she could perform the entire routine on resting heart rate.