College basketball season is going to kick off soon and before that, the spotlight’s on the upstarts in the D1 scene. Me’Arah O’Neal is preparing for her first season with the University of Florida after a very hectic summer in the youth league. She’s already famous as Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest kid, was the subject of ESPN and Sportscenter profiles, and has a significant social media following. Yet she can’t skip the customary Gators spotlight. And there were questions that could split Meezy’s loyalties.
In a brief ‘Meet Meezy’ segment with Gators Basketball, her interviewer asks, “What’s a pair of Jordans you wish that Serena would get you all, before the year is out?” That’s Serena Lamar, the director of basketball operators at UF who would be the one to find the women’s basketball team their choice of kicks.
Meezy looked almost caught off guard by that question starting with a surprised, “Pair of Js?” But she proceeded to say, “I don’t know, I’m really into 4’s. So any time, any type of fly 4’s, Serena, you going to have to hook us up for the one time.”
We know what you’re thinking. Isn’t her dad the president of basketball operations at Reebok? Then again, Nike and Air Jordan are officially sponsors of Gators basketball. And really, Meezy can wear Air Jordan 4s over the Shaq Attaq if her dad can obsess In-N-Out over Big Chicken Shaq.
Her fam’s all in for Meezy’s Q&A. Her mom, Shaunie Henderson, and her sister, Amirah O’Neal, commented a series of hearts under this interview. Now it remains to be seen if Serena finds those AJ4s.
Shaq’s diverse about his footwear preferences too
Shaq’s over at Reebok making plans to restore his brand as the biggest rival of Nike the way it was when they signed Big Diesel in the ’90s. Nike and Reebok occupied the top shares of the sneaker market with their signature athletes, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal. Reebok faced a sharp decline after Shaq left. He pushed Authentic Brands to acquire Reebok from Adidas in 2021 so he could be at the helm.
Despite his ambitious plans for Reebok, O’Neal continues to run in and wear his affordable footwear line under Walmart. He wore those shoes with his iconic dunking silhouette at Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre’s Gin & Juice launch party in London last month. Meanwhile, he’s ready to give Nike some stiff competition.
He first signed LSU star, Angel Reese to an NIL deal and now she’s close to a signature shoe under Reebok. Her rival, Caitlin Clark, will have her own under Nike. And everyone, including Shaq, believe Me’Arah is going to reach Angel and CC levels of greatness with her own signature shoe in the future. Which brand she picks, though, would be interesting to see.
Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.