It looks like Texas Southern University’s athletic department has attracted another child of pro NBA player Shaquille O’Neal. Amirah O’Neal, Shaq’s daughter with Basketball Wives creator Shaunie O’Neal, has followed in her brother Shaqir’s footsteps, committing to play for the TSU basketball team.
She will play under the direction of head coach and Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. The move comes at a good time for the Lady Tigers who had a dampened season, coming out 5-10. Prior to the pandemic, the team scored 20-10.
Her older brother, Shaqir, joined the TSU Tigers earlier this year — most likely at the influence of his father who played under current TSU men’s basketball head coach Johnny Jones when he was at LSU between 1989 and 1992. Jones was an assistant coach at the time.
Amirah’s decision to play for the Lady Tigers is a convenient one for her family considering that her mother, Shaunie, moved from Los Angeles to Houston during the pandemic. Now that Amirah and Shaqir play at the same school, the family is more centralized.
Before joining the TSU Lady Tigers, Amirah O’Neal was a walk-on who played the forward position at her father’s alma mater. Nicknamed “Mimi,” Amirah started playing basketball at the age of 10. By the time she made it to high school she was averaging 17.2 points per game as a junior. In 2019, Amirah was named the MaxPreps California All-State Girls Team honorable mention. She’s also been decorated as a Three-time All-Gold Coast League selection, Three-time All-CIF Team, and Two-time All-State honoree, all while being on the honor roll.
