Shaq's oldest son, UCLA freshman Shareef O'Neal, underwent successful heart surgery this week and is officially on "the road to recovery."
A message posted last night on Shareef's social media accounts reads: "I made it,Thank you for all the love and support! I really appreciate all your thoughts and prayers, that’s what helped me through this surgery. I’m on the road to recovery, and I’ll be back soon...better than ever. His Words, typed by Mimi oneal"
Shareef, a four-star recruit, will miss his freshman season with the Bruins after doctors discovered a heart ailment that led to Thursday's procedure.
O'Neal had told TMZ Sports he "felt funny" during team workouts over the summer, and UCLA's doctors made him wear a heart monitor so he could push a button whenever he wanted to alert them. The button came into play during during one summer practice and doctors later discovered the heart ailment.
TMZ recently reported that O'Neal still plans to attend his classes just like a normal student and has vowed to be back in action for the Bruins next season. The 6'9 power forward was one of the top high school basketball players in the country in 2018 and one of five top-100 recruits that committed to the UCLA Bruins.
UCLA has gotten out to a 7-2 start this season. They'll kickoff their Pac-12 schedule on January 3rd with a home game against Stanford.