Former Florida women's basketball forward Me'Arah O'Neal, the daughter of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats through the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3's Talia Goodman.
The 6-foot-4-inch rising junior averaged 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks over 33 starts in 2025-26 with the Gators, connecting at a 52.9% clip from the field and 38.1% from 3-point range. Her high-water mark last season came against her future team, in which she exploded for 23 points on 6-for-12 shooting (2-for-4 3pt) along with four rebounds and an assist at Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum.
Over the course of her career, O'Neal averaged 9.0 points on 49.5% shooting and 34.0% from beyond the arc, along with a 74.3% mark at the foul line. She also grabbed 5.1 rebounds and blocked 1.0 shots, while snatching 0.9 steals and dishing out 0.8 assists per game over 68 total appearances.
Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) celebrates Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.Mar 5, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners center Raegan Beers (15) tries for the steal from Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesMar 5, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Keziah Lofton (22) shoots the ball defended by Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) looks for an opening past Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes (1) during the third quarter at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) is fouled by Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Madison Francis (40) Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots the ball past Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Madison Francis (40) Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots the ball past Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Madison Francis (40) Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) pressures Florida A&M guard Za'Naria Robinson (15) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) shoots a free throw against Florida A&M during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida head coach Kelly Rae Finley talks with Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) during the first half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Areana in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Jan 4, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots the ball over South Carolina Gamecocks center Madina Okot (11) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn ImagesFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8)] rebounds near Florida guard Liv McGill (23) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Areana at the Steven C. O Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 20, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Tennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) tries to get to the basket between Florida guard Liv McGill (23) and forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) during an NCAA college basketball game on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) passes under pressure from Chattanooga guard Sarah Owona (5) during an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connel Center Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 6, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) and Texas A&M forward Fatmata Janneh (44) during the second half of at an NCAA women’s basketball game at the Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactech arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Florida loses 66-74[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) shoots against Chattanooga forward Ava Card (23) during an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connel Center Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 6, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) gets pressure from Missouri guard Shannon Dowell (1) during the first half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Areana in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) rebounds against Missouri forward Ma'riya Vincent (12) during the second half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Arena in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Keli Wakeley/Gainesville Sun]BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA - DECEMBER 4: Me'Arah O'Neal #8 of the Florida Gators shoots a free throw against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half during a game at Cassell Coliseum on December 4, 2025 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) drives on Texas center Kyla Oldacre (00) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, January 29, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Jan 29, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) blocks a shot from Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn ImagesFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots for two against Vanderbilt during the first quarter at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) and other team members celebrate during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 3, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) rebounds past North Florida guard Karyzma Pierre (24) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 3, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) with the shot attempt while guarded by Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) in an NCAA college basketball game on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) steals the ball against the Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Arena Steven C. Oconnell Cengter in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 10, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) rebounds against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Areana at the Steven C. O Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 20, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots past Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) during the first half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Areana in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) blocks Texas A&M forward Lauren Ware (32) during the second half of at an NCAA women’s basketball game at the Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactech arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Florida loses 66-74[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) tries to block Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) during the second half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Arena in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Keli Wakeley/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) passes North Florida forward Nicole Carreno (35) during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 3, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) drives against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Areana at the Steven C. O Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 20, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]Jan 29, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) attempts a three point basket against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images1 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) celebrates Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.1 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) celebrates Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.2 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaMar 5, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners center Raegan Beers (15) tries for the steal from Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images3 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaMar 5, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Keziah Lofton (22) shoots the ball defended by Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images4 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) looks for an opening past Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes (1) during the third quarter at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.5 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) is fouled by Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Madison Francis (40) Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.6 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots the ball past Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Madison Francis (40) Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.7 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots the ball past Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Madison Francis (40) Wednesday, March 4, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.8 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) pressures Florida A&M guard Za'Naria Robinson (15) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]9 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) shoots a free throw against Florida A&M during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]10 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida head coach Kelly Rae Finley talks with Florida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) during the first half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Areana in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]11 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaJan 4, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots the ball over South Carolina Gamecocks center Madina Okot (11) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images12 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8)] rebounds near Florida guard Liv McGill (23) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Areana at the Steven C. O Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 20, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]13 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaTennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) tries to get to the basket between Florida guard Liv McGill (23) and forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) during an NCAA college basketball game on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.14 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) passes under pressure from Chattanooga guard Sarah Owona (5) during an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connel Center Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 6, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]15 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) and Texas A&M forward Fatmata Janneh (44) during the second half of at an NCAA women’s basketball game at the Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactech arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Florida loses 66-74[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]16 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) shoots against Chattanooga forward Ava Card (23) during an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connel Center Exactech Areana in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 6, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]17 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) gets pressure from Missouri guard Shannon Dowell (1) during the first half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Areana in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]18 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) rebounds against Missouri forward Ma'riya Vincent (12) during the second half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Arena in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Keli Wakeley/Gainesville Sun]19 / 33Me'Arah O'Neal transfers to Kentucky after two years at FloridaBLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA - DECEMBER 4: Me'Arah O'Neal #8 of the Florida Gators shoots a free throw against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half during a game at Cassell Coliseum on December 4, 2025 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)20 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) drives on Texas center Kyla Oldacre (00) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, January 29, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]21 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaJan 29, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) blocks a shot from Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images22 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots for two against Vanderbilt during the first quarter at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.23 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) and other team members celebrate during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 3, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]24 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) rebounds past North Florida guard Karyzma Pierre (24) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 3, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]25 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaTennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) with the shot attempt while guarded by Florida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) in an NCAA college basketball game on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.26 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) steals the ball against the Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Arena Steven C. Oconnell Cengter in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 10, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]27 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) rebounds against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Areana at the Steven C. O Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 20, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]28 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) shoots past Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) during the first half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Areana in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]29 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) blocks Texas A&M forward Lauren Ware (32) during the second half of at an NCAA women’s basketball game at the Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactech arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Florida loses 66-74[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]30 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) tries to block Missouri guard Grace Slaughter (0) during the second half of an NCAA Women’s basketball game at Exactech Arena in the Steven C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 18, 2026. [Keli Wakeley/Gainesville Sun]31 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) passes North Florida forward Nicole Carreno (35) during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactec Arena in Gainesville, FL on Monday, November 3, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]32 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaFlorida forward Me'Arah O'Neal (8) drives against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Exactec Areana at the Steven C. O Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 20, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]33 / 33PHOTOS: Highlights from Me'Arah O'Neal's season with FloridaJan 29, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators forward Me'arah O'Neal (8) attempts a three point basket against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn ImagesO'Neal was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, according to ESPN.
Kentucky was looking for frontcourt reinforcements after the departure of both Teonni Key and Amelia Hassett, and O’Neal helps to fill that void with her size and talent. She is the Wildcats' third transfer portal commitment of the offseason, along with former UConn Husky forward Ayanna Patterson and Alabama Crimson Tide guard Diana Collins.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Florida women's basketball Me'Arah O'Neal transfers to Kentucky