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Shaquille O'Neal visits his high school alma mater during NCAA Final Four Weekend

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•04/09/25•

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Shaquille O'Neal
Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Shaquille O'Neal looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four being held in San Antonio, Texas, Shaquille O’Neal visited his high school alma mater. In a video shared by the San Antonio Express-News on X/Twitter, the four-time NBA champion returned to Robert G. Cole High School at the Joint Base San Antonio in Fort Sam Houston.

O’Neal said to Cole’s current students, “Continue to listen to your parents. Follow your dreams, especially how it is here. Anything is possible. I wish you well. I just wanted to come by to say ‘Hello’ to you. Appreciate you guys. And this is where it all starts.”

His visit could inspire the Cougars boys basketball team to finish stronger next season. While Cole finished with a 29-8 record, the Kountze Lions humiliated them in the University Interscholastic League Class 3A Division 2 state semifinal 83-32.

Meanwhile, he received some of the school’s branded gear, including a military-themed bucket hat. He also took pictures with current Cole students and teachers. After living in West Germany due to his stepfather’s military designation, Shaquille O’Neal played for Cole and led the squad to a 68-1 record over two seasons.

During his senior year (1989), he collected 791 rebounds, a Texas high school basketball single-season state record that still stands. Likewise, the Cole Cougars completed an undefeated 36-0 record that season, en route to winning a state championship. These numbers and results earned him the 1989 Texas Mr. Basketball Award and a McDonald’s All-American selection.

After playing for the Cougars, O’Neal continued his basketball career with the Louisiana State University Tigers. At LSU, he became a two-time Consensus All-American and a two-time SEC Male Athlete of the Year winner. He declared for the 1992 NBA Draft after two years at Baton Rogue, and the Orlando Magic selected him first overall.

Shaquille O’Neal retired after 20 NBA seasons. In addition to his championships, he earned three NBA Finals MVPs, a season MVP, eight All-NBA First Team selections, and 15 All-Star appearances.