Shareef O’Neal might be Shaq’s son, but he’s carving his own Baton Rouge legacy

He knows the comparisons are coming. It’s inevitable with the illustrious name written across his back.

But ever since the start of his basketball career, Shareef O’Neal has been working to create a legacy of his own beyond simply being “Shaq’s son.”

As a four-star power forward prospect, O’Neal committed to UCLA out of high school. He played in 13 of 31 games as a redshirt freshman. He felt it wasn’t quite the right fit for him in Los Angeles and ultimately decided to make the move to LSU.

He knows the challenges that come with being an O’Neal in Baton Rouge, but he also felt that—ironic as it may sound—being a Tiger gave him a chance to get a fresh start.

Read more about what that fresh start might look in 225‘s profile on O’Neal, who is one of our 2021 People to Watch.