LA Times · Mar 15, 2018
Shareef O'Neal develops his own game with help of his famous father
Whether waving a giant poster of his face in the bleachers or cheering loudly after a windmill dunk, Santa Monica Crossroads fans can't get enough of 6-foot-10 senior Shareef O'Neal, otherwise known as Baby Shaq.
Students at the K-12 school greet O'Neal in the morning on an outside basketball court and ask, "Can I throw you a lob pass?" O'Neal has been gracious enough to lift younger students onto his shoulders to let them experience a dunk.
O'Neal has been having an MVP season, averaging 27.6 points, 17.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.7 blocked shots a game. The growing crowds at Crossroads games have everyone buzzing, but no one more than O'Neal.