April 29, 2026, 13:03 EDT — Lexington, Kentucky.
Me’Arah O’Neal—a 6-foot-4 forward who played last season at Florida and is the daughter of Shaquille O’Neal—has chosen Kentucky, adding an experienced SEC presence to coach Kenny Brooks’ frontcourt via the transfer portal. O’Neal made her decision public Monday afternoon in a social media post, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
This is hitting now because Kentucky’s retooling right where O’Neal lines up. The Wildcats just sent four players—Teonni Key, Tonie Morgan, Amelia Hassett, and Jordan Obi—into the 2026 WNBA Draft, marking a program first: four taken in a single year.
O’Neal’s impact at Florida went well beyond name recognition. She started every one of the Gators’ 33 games in 2025-26, putting up 13.6 points and 6.4 boards per contest, with efficiency numbers to match—52.9% shooting overall and 38.1% from deep. She also racked up 47 blocks and 45 steals over the season.
Kentucky landed the commitment, edging out Virginia, North Carolina, and USC, according to On3. Brooks now has three portal pickups this offseason: first UConn’s Ayanna Patterson, then Alabama’s Diana Collins, and now this latest pledge.
The timing comes as Florida is in flux. The Gators brought in Tammi Reiss back in March, following the exit of Kelly Rae Finley—whose record stood at 93-75, with a 30-50 mark in SEC games. Florida, as the AP noted, missed out on the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
O’Neal came to Florida in 2024 as a McDonald’s All-American, a recognition reserved for elite high school talent. The Gators listed her as a top-50 recruit out of Houston. According to her Florida bio, she also took part in the 2025 USA Basketball 3X Nationals as the school’s representative.
Brooks points straight to Kentucky’s most recent campaign: 25-11 overall, 8-8 in SEC play, then bounced by Texas in the Sweet 16, 76-54. That win sent Texas on to the Elite Eight.
This connection didn’t start overnight. Back in 2023, O’Neal told the Herald-Leader during her high school recruitment that building relationships was important to her—she wanted a program “where I’ll have a successful career.” By that point, Kentucky had already extended an offer. Lexington Herald Leader
Her name’s sure to stand out far past any roster. Fox News picked up her Instagram announcement, noting that Shaquille O’Neal once dubbed her the “best athlete in the family”—a comment that’s bound to stick with her in Lexington. Fox News
On3’s Phoenix Stevens called O’Neal a likely “key day-one contributor,” highlighting her SEC background as Kentucky works in several freshmen. Stevens also flagged her 38.1% clip from deep—potentially an upgrade for the Wildcats’ frontcourt. On3
Still, there’s a risk. Kentucky’s patching up its rotation post-draft, with key players gone, and whether O’Neal can keep up her improved shooting is about to get tested under real pressure. Florida’s stats back up those gains, but Kentucky hasn’t figured out how to fit them into its frontcourt with Clara Strack yet.
