Shareef O’Neal will sit out for the 2018-2019 NCAA basketball season because of an emergency heart surgery that has to be performed after recently finding out that he had a heart problem.
O’Neal, who is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, better know as “Shaq,” is a freshman at UCLA this year and was one of five top 100 best high school basketball players in the country that committed to play at UCLA. The university is in full support of O’Neal and his need to sit out for what would have been his first season as a college player.
“Freshman Shareef O’Neal will be sidelined for the 2018-19 season (medical). He will remain enrolled in class and on the men’s basketball team during this redshirt year. The UCLA men’s basketball program completely supports Shareef and his family as he gets this issue resolved.”
O’Neal seems to be staying positive about the situation and is looking forward to going to classes and being a normal student for the time being.
“Thank God the UCLA medical staff caught it early,” O’Neal said. “During rehab, I’ll be attending my classes and being a normal student. I’ll be back in no time.”
O’Neal averaged 8.2 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game in his high school career. He’ll look to add length and strength to the UCLA team. He has good size and the athletic ability to keep UCLA a powerhouse in the world of college basketball and help the team to reach the NCAA tournament and of course complete the ultimate goal of being national champions.
thexavierleroy.home.blog 