“Not one team knew I struggled with that - not being able to pick up the phone and call my dad and ask him, Can you help me?' Or, Are you proud of me?' Or to cherish me being drafted or my kids being born.”

American former professional basketball player

Jermaine O'Neal is an American former professional basketball player, born in 1978. He played as a center and power forward and became known for entering the NBA straight out of high school, then being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1996. Selected 17th overall at age 17, he played his first NBA game at 18 and was, at the time, the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game. His story is closely tied to the leap from high school basketball to the professional level.