O'Neal's son, Shaqir O'Neal, transferred to Sacramento State from Florida A&M in March to play for NBA icon Mike Bibby, who took over as the Hornets' head coach this offseason.

Earlier this spring, Sacramento State University hired Sacramento Kings legend Mike Bibby to take over as head coach, hoping that he could bring some energy to the often-flailing men's program. This week, it was announced that the Hornets would get another injection of celebrity power, with Shaquille O'Neal taking on an unpaid role.

The Sacramento State Hornets basketball program just landed its first recruit of the Mike Bibby-Shaquille O’Neal era. Brandon Gardner, a former top-100 recruit and 6’8″ athletic forward, announced his commitment to the Hornets after brief stints at USC and Arizona State.