Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter Me’arah, 13, shows off athleticism and agility in clip shared by her brother Shareef, 20
Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest daughter Me’arah O’Neal clearly has inherited her dad’s athletic ability.
In a clip shared by the NBA icon’s son Shareef, 20, on Tuesday, the 13-year-old is seen driving up to the rim in a home gym and gracefully tipping the ball in the hoop.
‘So my 13 year old sister is a cheat code … almost dunking,’ said Shareef, who recently transferred from UCLA to LSU, where he will play college basketball like his famous dad once did.
It’s been an emotional time for everyone in the family following the death of family friends Kobe Bryant, 41, and daughter Gianna ‘GiGi’ Bryant, 13, with seven others in a January 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
The helicopter had been headed to Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, where Me’arah had past played basketball with her friend GiGi.
Among multiple tributes to the late father and daughter on her Instagram page, Me’arah shared a shot in which she was shooting a free throw while Kobe and Gigi were visible on the second level of the sports facility.
‘Knew y’all was watching over me!’ Me’arah wrote. ‘I was trying my best to impress both of you, going so hard till i can’t breath no more! Right after this game… I ran over too you Unc … just wondering what i was gonna say or do.’
Promising: The youngest daughter of the four-time NBA champion clearly has a scorer’s touch
Moving forward: It’s been an emotional time for everyone in the family following the death of family friends Kobe Bryant, 41, and daughter Gianna ‘GiGi’ Bryant, 13, as Me’arah was close with both
Me’arah recalled how Kobe had told her that her ‘game was looking great’ and that she was ‘better then good enough to make it’ in basketball.
She wrapped up the emotional post in saying, ‘Please watch over me, you’ll always be with me! both of you! forever and always.’
Her dad Shaquille delivered a moving speech at a memorial held for Kobe and Gigi on Monday in Los Angeles.
A look back: Me’arah shared a shot on January 26 in which she was shooting a free throw while Kobe and Gigi were visible on the second level of the sports facility
Classy: Shaquille O’Neal delivered a moving speech at a memorial held for Kobe and Gigi in LA on Monday
‘Mamba, you were taken away from us way too soon,’ the 7ft1 hoops legend told the crowd at Staples Center. ‘Your next chapter of life is just beginning. It’s time for us to continue your legacy. Just know that we got your back, little brother. I’ll look after things down here.
The former Los Angeles Laker, 47, added, ‘I’ll be sure to teach Natalia, Bianca and baby girl Capri all your moves, and I promise I will not teach them my free throw techniques.
‘But for now, I take comfort in the fact that as we speak, Kobe and Gigi are holding hands, walking to the nearest basketball court. Kobe will show her some new Mamba moves today. And Gigi will soon master them. Kobe, you’re heaven’s MVP. I love you, my man. Till we meet again. Rest in peace, Kobe.’