Shaquille O’Neal’s 6ft 5 Nephew Grabs the Spotlight While 21YO Shaqir Deals with Transfer Portal
Imagine being Shaquille O’Neal—By day, he was dropping wisdom and jokes on Inside the NBA until now, breaking down plays with the same dominance he used to. By afternoon, he’s jumping into boardrooms, steering a fleet of his businesses. And by night? The man transforms into DJ Diesel, blasting bass at the cafe, turning up crowds with a seven-foot-tall presence behind the decks. But beyond this, he has something more to bother right now—watching one family member make headlines on the hardwood while another navigates a fresh twist in his college journey. From Shaqir O’Neal teaming up with someone Big Diesel once clashed with on the court, to a rising star in the family drawing attention, there’s a lot for Shaq to take in. But here’s the silver lining—both stories have the potential to bring something good out of them.
But let’s reveal the 6 ft 6 talented relative of Big Diesel first. The 6’5″ high school baller, who happens to be Shaq’s nephew, recently grabbed some well-deserved attention, and SportsCenter NEXT made sure the world saw it. It’s none other than High School basketball star Jarrett Harris. The update about his latest marvels on the hardwood was shared by SportsCenter NEXT.
“15-year-old Jarrett Harris got the genes…” read the caption to the video, featuring the budding basketball talent. The clip showed the 15-year-old dominating the rim, but he seems to have one up over Shaquille O’Neal. While Big Diesel was often criticized for his shooting skills, it seems from the clip that Harris has already worked on that aspect of the game.
Now, if you go by his Harris’ stats this season, they might not wow you just yet. A freshman in the Class of 2028, the 15-year-old is suiting up for Lutheran High School in Indianapolis and currently averages 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds a game.
Before this, he was listed as a junior at Purdue Polytechnic High School Broad Ripple during the 2023–24 season. That points to a possible reclassification and school switch. And while his numbers don’t pop yet, let’s not forget how quickly things turned around for Kiyan Anthony, who doubled his scoring average in one year. With these recent highlights surfacing, Harris might just be on the verge of his own breakout.
And who knows? A change in the environment can do wonders. After all, Shaquille O’Neal’s son is himself making a similar move himself—except he’s heading into the hands of someone his father once considered a rival.
Shaqir O’Neal commits to Sacramento State
Sometimes, basketball has a funny way of coming full circle. And if you’ve followed the NBA even casually over the years, the latest twist involving Shaqir might just make you do a double-take. Not long after Mike Bibby stepped in as the head coach for Sacramento State’s men’s basketball team, he made his intentions clear: “We’re going to try to get the best kids we can here to change the culture.”
And right on cue, his first major recruit is none other than Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest son. Now, here’s where it gets really interesting. Rewind to the early 2000s, and you’ll remember that Shaq and Bibby were anything but allies. Shaq, in his prime with the Lakers, led a powerful squad that twice knocked Bibby’s Sacramento Kings out of the playoffs—first in 2001, and then in the unforgettable 2002 series.
And just in case the losses weren’t painful enough, Shaq had a way of adding fuel to the fire. He mocked the Kings regularly, even nicknaming them “The Sacramento Queens.” But time clearly mellowed things out. Shaq would eventually join the Kings’ front office as a minority owner between 2013 and 2022. And now? His son’s playing under Bibby. Proof that the past is in the rearview? Bibby put it plainly: “I talked to Shaq.” Now, under Mike Bibby, the hope is that Shaqir manages to find his success. Something that Shaquille O’Neal’s nephew, Jarrett Harris, has been doing for himself recently.
