Me’Arah O’Neal’s athletic abilities can be traced back to kindergarten. One fine afternoon, Shaunie got a call from Me’Arah’s P.E. teacher, asking her to stop by for a few minutes. “I need you to see your daughter throw a football… Have you ever seen her throw a football?” the teacher questioned her. A bewildered Shaunie wondered where this was going. Her daughter never played football. But when the teacher ran onto the field and asked the kid to throw him the ball, Shaunie was shocked at what she saw.

With a smooth motion, the five-year-old threw the ball straight to the teacher, who was about 50 yards away. That’s when she knew Me’Arah was special. She signed up her daughter to play flag football and recreational basketball in Orlando at the local YMCA, and the duo would spend all their weekends there.

But then, Me’Arah would always try to compete with her brothers, Myles, Shareef, and Shaqir, who would push her around a lot. They refused to take it easy on their little sister. While there were times she felt left out as the brothers would pretend to be NBA players and compete with each other, their young sister was busy watching them and learning.

“When I first saw Me’Arah dribble a basketball, I actually was kind of shocked because no one taught her. She just watched her brothers. It wasn’t even like she was a little girl that watched basketball on television. … She has a God-given athletic ability that is just not normal,” Shaunie once revealed. It is clear Me’Arah got the talent from her father, Shaquille O’Neal, but her mother’s efforts in nurturing it were just as important and the Florida Gators player made sure to spell this out.

The youngest daughter of Shaquille and Shaunie, took to Instagram on November 27, to share a heartwarming post in honor of her mother’s birthday. The image, which shows Me’Arah embracing her mother, was accompanied by a heartfelt caption expressing her love and gratitude. “I am where I am today, entirely because of you. I am wholeheartedly grateful to be able to call you my momma. The strongest most beautiful woman I know. @iamshaunie I love you, happy birthday,” wrote Me’Arah.

Shaunie reshared the Instagram story, and responded, “I love you more, baby girl. Thank you.”

The 50-year-old has been a steadfast supporter of her children’s endeavors, often stepping into the spotlight as the guiding force behind their success. This was evident during Me’Arah’s college basketball debut with the Florida Gators, where Shaunie was the only parent present in the stands. In that game, with the help of her mother’s support, the young forward scored 7 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist in just twenty minutes, helping the Gators defeat Florida Atlantic Owl, 82-54.

“The moments I wish I could split myself in half…. Both my babies game openers tonight. I’ll be sitting in the stands watching one while holding my phone watching the other. MOTHERHOOD! I love every minute of it. Cheering for both at the same time!” Shaunie had written in an Instagram post. She attended her daughter’s game over her son Shaqir’s FAMU game.

However, Me’Arah wasn’t the only kid to wish her mother. Amirah O’Neal also took to her Instagram story and penned a beautiful message that read, “Happy Birthday to the best mom ever! Your love, strength, and kindness inspire everyone around you. Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made and the countless ways you’ve supported us. On this special day, I hope you feel all the love you give to others returned to you tenfold. May your year ahead be filled with joy, laughter, and all the things that make you smile. You truly deserve the best! Enjoy your day momma girl!”

Shaunie reposted Amirah’s story with the caption, “I love Meemz, Thank You.” Moreover, Myles and Shaqir also paid tribute to their mother by posting respective stories on their Instagram. This heartfelt moment between the kids and Shaunie reminds us of the importance of family in achieving greatness. However, even though the 18-year-old was the first to give a tribute to her mother, there was a time when she scared Shaunie.

How Me’Arah O’Neal once frightened Shaunie!

There is no doubt that Me’Arah has been making waves on the college basketball court. But even before joining the Gators, her resume was great. She was ranked the third-highest prospect in Texas and the 33rd-ranked recruit in the country. However, this greatness turned out to be a scary experience for Shaunie.

While at Episcopal High School, the young forward reached the finals of the Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A State Championship. Shaunie, who was present in the stands during the game in February alongside Pastor Keion Henderson, admitted just how intense the game was.

“This is a really BIG DEAL that happened today!!! THE CHAMPS are here!!! #EHS I could not be more proud of my babygirl. Even though I was stressed and was sweating like I was playing,” she had later expressed in a post.

The nail-biting moments had Shaunie on edge, her emotions swinging between pride and anxiety as she watched her daughter dominate on the court. Despite the tense atmosphere, Me’Arah’s skills helped her high school team defeat the Kinkaid School (66-54) and clinch the title, proving there was ultimately nothing to fear. This incident highlights the close bond the 18-year-old shares with her mother.