Inside the NBA’s future is hanging by a string. While things seem to be shutting down for the Inside guys, it’s time for humble beginnings for Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter. His youngest, Me’Arah, is set to welcome a new yet most profound chapter of her life. This time, in the Sunshine State of Florida.

People are worried about Inside the NBA’s future. Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and others are carrying a lot of weight on their shoulders. While things seem to be shutting down for them, O’Neal’s daughter has just started. His youngest daughter, Me’Arah O’Neal, is set to welcome a new chapter in Florida. And amidst all the gloom for Shaq, this comes a piece of good news.

“Pray 4 strength. pray 4 resilience,” the 18-year-old Me’Arah wrote a day ago on her Instagram. A couple of videos and snaps showing the young talent working out were tagged alongside. But things don’t stop there. The young baller received quite the cheer from her sister and mother, Shaunie, hinting at something huge on the way. “My girl! You got this, I promise!” the latter had commented.

Just as expected, Me’Arah finally took the next big step in her life, becoming the fourth of Shaq and Shaunie’s kids to embrace college basketball. Over the next few years, the 18-year-old will shine in the orange and blue to represent the Florida Gators. Elated about the move, Me’Arah shared, “I’m lit. Other than carrying all the stuff in, all that, everywhere, I’m good…I really feel the heat though here. I gotta get used to it.” On par with the younger one’s feelings, Shaunie remained confident about her daughter.

Shaunie, who dropped her 18-year-old daughter at college, spoke, “I have moved kids into college and this experience has been the first one where I—feel comfortable. I mean, it has just been great from start to finish,” hinting that Florida is going to be a great second home for Me’Arah.

The 18-year-old guard signed the letter of intent with Florida back in November, deviating from her father’s alma mater, LSU. Me’Arah revealed that the decision stemmed from a sense of belonging and confidence she felt upon visiting the program. And Shaq was all in for it.

“What I did tell her is, ‘Go where you’re needed, not where you’re wanted… I want [my kids] to have their own journey, have their own experience,” he spoke. Shaq is always ready to help his children. However, he expects them to pave their own way. He calls it ‘respectable nepotism’ and Me’Arah seems to embrace the idea to the T.

Is Me’Arah O’Neal ready for the comparisons?

It is no news that all of Shaq’s kids have dealt with soaring expectations that have come with their father’s legacy. The more recent subject of it has been Me’Arah. But the 18-year-old remains unfazed by it, willing to tread her own path to success. “I’m pretty sure a lotta people expect me to play just like my dad… But I’m not that. I just wanna be my own person and make a name for myself. And I think I’m doing that pretty well,” she iterated.

As a high-school senior, Me’Arah, alongside her teammates at Episcopal High School, defeated Kinkaid 66-54 for the State Basketball title. The 6’3 guard led with 23 points. She followed it up, averaging 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in under 20 minutes competing at the AAU this summer.

Further, around the same time, she was selected for the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game. A proud dad in Shaq invited Me’Arah on Inside the NBA for a special segment. 

“I want to say I’m so proud of you, and I love you,” Shaq said on stage. He then went on to present her with the No.24 jersey. This also happened to be Me’Arah’s television debut. But the show Shaq worked at for 20 years will reportedly be losing out the rights to NBC, ESPN, and Amazon.

Nonetheless, for the time being, Shaq has a moment to celebrate as Me’Arah O’Neal joins Kylee Kitts, Alexia Gassett, and Aliyah Matharu, among others, for grander aspirations ahead. While Shaq has some good news to make his day brighter, Charles Barkley seems to be struggling. 

He recently said he was even willing to work for ESPN. Why is that shocking? In the past, he tore apart the media house because it laid off many employees. “They are going to work me like a dog and not pay me,” he stated back then. In fact, he said he would never work with the Disney-owned network. Clearly, changing times have forced him to take back his old statement. Now only time will tell what takes place.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video: