With the controversy and uncertainty now swirling around the basketball program in the wake of the University of Arizona, and head coach Sean Miller reportedly caught on tape brokering a $100,000 payment to elite recruit Deandre Ayton, who is currently averaging 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds for Arizona and widely regarded as one of the top prospects coming out of the 2018 NBA Draft, another shoe has dropped with the latest news.
It seems that Shareef O’Neal, Shaq’s son and a top-30 prospect in the 2018 class, announced that he is decommitting from Arizona and opening up his recruitment. Shareef originally committed to the Wildcats last April.
Shareef O’Neal on Twitter
At this time I’m am opening up my recruitment due to the current events with the UofA Bball team.I would like to thank all the coaches for recruiting me. At the time my family and I think it’s in my best interest to look at other options to assure my play in the NCAA next year.
It was also reported today that Miller will not coach Arizona’s Saturday game against Oregon.
O’Neal, a 6-foot-9 power forward from the Crossroads School in California averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds on the Nike EYBL circuit with the California Supreme AAU program last spring and summer. He was recently in the news cycle due to the uproar of him not being selected as a McDonald’s All-American.
SLAM HS Hoops on Twitter
Shareef O’Neal scored 26 points last night including a 360 dunk! @SSJreef https://t.co/phc19yKfwk
O’Neal didn’t sign a letter of intent to secure his scholarship, instead signing a nonbinding financial aid agreement with Arizona. As a result, he won’t need the school to grant him a release and is free to go wherever he chooses.
Shareef O’Neal Is Out For REVENGE! “Should’ve Put Me In The Game” Snubbed McDonald’s All American
Shareef O’Neal goes off tonight proving a point that he should be a McDonald’s All American.
Prior to his commitment, LSU, where Shaq attended, along with Baylor, Cal, Georgetown, Kansas State, UCLA and USC were among the schools who had extended him scholarship offers.
Stay tuned as the dominoes continue to fall as a result of the FBI investigation.
