In the past decade, more sons of NBA players have been playing college basketball than ever before.
From Bronny James to Devin Booker to Cole Anthony to Gary Payton II, the list goes on as we see more second-generation college and NBA athletes.
On Wednesday, another second-generation basketball player announced his college decision. 2025 four-star small forward Jermaine O’Neal Jr. committed to Andy Enfield and the SMU Mustangs. Ironically, Enfield was the coach of the USC Trojans last season, and coached James in his lone collegiate season.
4⭐️ Jermaine O’Neal Jr. (no. 88 ESPN 100) has committed to SMU‼️@JOneal7_ | @SMUBasketball pic.twitter.com/Gna2vM4Q84
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) September 18, 2024
O’Neal is the son of six-time NBA All-Star center Jermaine O’Neal, who played for seven teams throughout his 18-year NBA career and who, at the time of his NBA debut in 1996 right out of high school, was the youngest player to ever play in an NBA game until Andrew Bynum broke the record with his debut in 2005. Since his retirement, he has been the basketball coach at Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas, where O’Neal Jr played.
O’Neal Jr had offers from the Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Missouri Tigers, and other schools. Ultimately, the Dynamic Prep forward from Southlake, Texas chose to stay local to Dallas and commit to SMU.
The four-star forward is Enfield’s first commit in the class of 2025.
