Shaq wants son to play for LSU, Michigan State or Kentucky

By Brad Weiss | Jun 29, 2016

Mar 7, 2015; Santa Ana, CA, USA; Windward Wildcats player Shareef O' Neal (34), son of NBA player Shaquille O'Neal, battles Viewpoint Patriots player Miye Oni (13) during the California Interscholastic Federation High School boys basketball finals. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Shaquille O’Neal played his college basketball at LSU, eventually being selected as the first pick in the NBA Draft. Wednesday, he spoke of where he would like to see his son play.

Shaquille O’Neal was one of the most dominant players in the history of the NBA. But before he was ever selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 NBA Draft, he starred as a member of the LSU Tigers in college. A two-time All-American, Shaq was given the Adolph Rupp Trophy as NCAA men’s basketball player of the year in 1991 and was twice the SEC Player of the Year.

His son, Shareef, has already received a scholarship offer from USC, and the rising junior is already ranked as one of the top-100 prospects in the Class of 2018. At 6-8, the younger O’Neal handles the ball much better than his legendary father, and just may follow his Dad as a first overall selection in the NBA Draft.

The elder O’Neal spoke on his podcast about where he would like to see his son play his college ball, and it makes perfect sense. Shaq’s choices are LSU, Kentucky, and Michigan State.

“I would like my son to play for a coach that’s going to teach him next-level stuff,” he said on “The Big Podcast With Shaq” earlier this week. “I have three in mind: Johnny Jones, LSU, because I know him personally, Calipari and the coach from Michigan State … Tom Izzo. I’ve told my son many times, it’s your decision and it is (his) decision. … I need somebody that’s gonna curse him out, treat him like a man. Those three guys are the ones I would like him to play for.”

Shaq has a great relationship with Kentucky’s coach John Calipari, who has sent tons of players to the NBA throughout his illustrious coaching career. LSU’s head coach Johnny Jones was an assistant coach at the school when Shaq attended, and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is about as good a coach as there is at that level.

O’Neal also said he will not persuade his son to attend LSU, but had a quick joke about his alma mater.

“LSU pays very well,” he said on the podcast. “I’m just playing. I’m just playing.”

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