Reviewed by: Grace Howard
Shaquille O’Neal makes unexpected Alabama announcement
Reading time: 2 minutes
Last week, Shaquille O’Neal announced his plans to attend Alabama State University.
The NBA Hall-of-Famer shared the news May 8 on the “Inside the NBA” show while wearing a Hornets sweater.
What we know
O’Neal’s revelation came after the show’s host, Ernie Johnson, asked O’Neal about his attire.
“From now (on) I would like to be addressed as Professor O’Neal, because when I graduate in two years, I will leave you and become a college professor on mentorship and business administration.”
Shaquille O’Neal, speaking on “Inside the NBA”
O’Neal went on to shout out the university’s Gamma Sigma fraternity.
HBCU Connection
O’Neal, a New Jersey native, grew up in Germany and Texas and played collegiately at Louisiana State University. His NBA career took him to Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston. None of these suggest an Alabama connection.
Shaq’s decision to support Alabama State likely reflects his longstanding respect for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
During a recent live episode of his podcast, The Big Podcast with Shaq, he shared that they also played a role in his undergraduate education.
“I always supported. It was an HBCU that helped me graduate from LSU. A lot of people don’t know the story, but I had to transfer to Southern [University and A&M College] for summer school. So I’ve always been a big supporter,” O’Neal said.
Shaquille O’Neal, speaking on “The Big Podcast with Shaq”
Additionally, O’Neal’s son, Shaqir, attended two HBCUs. The younger O’Neal spent three years with Texas Southern University and one with Florida A&M University.
Alabama State University
Alabama State, a historically Black university in Montgomery, has a rich history—but it’s also looking ahead. Just this January, the school received a $500,000 grant to help fund cutting-edge lung cancer research.
Are you excited for Shaq to be coming to Alabama? Let us know by tagging @thebamabuzz on socials.
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