Taahirah O’Neal is officially stepping into her father’s legacy, and building her own in the process. The eldest daughter of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has joined the board of the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to help lead the development of a $24 million Boys & Girls Club youth facility in Las Vegas, Black Enterprise reports.

The new Shaquille O’Neal Youth Development Complex is set to be a game changer for the city’s youth. The 30,000-square-foot facility will be packed with everything from tech innovation labs and mental wellness rooms to an early learning center and, of course, a basketball gym fit for “The Big Aristotle” himself. 

With the support of organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the UFC, the complex will also feature a multi-sport field and a dedicated MMA and boxing center. It will even include the first-ever Communities In Schools Alumni Center in the U.S., serving as a hub for education, mentorship, and personal growth.

For Taahirah, joining the project feels like coming full circle. 

“Visiting the future Shaquille O’Neal Youth Development Complex in Las Vegas was one of those surreal, full-circle moments,” she shared on Instagram. “Standing on the ground where thousands of kids will one day play, learn, and thrive was such a beautiful reminder of why we do this work.”

At 29, O’Neal brings both heart and hustle to her new role. A magna cum laude graduate of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, she earned her degree in sociology with a minor in politics and African American studies. Since then, she’s built a solid career in marketing, working on campaigns for Pepsi and her father’s Big Chicken fast food chain. Now, she’s channeling her skills into a new chapter of purpose-driven leadership.

“I’m so proud to help carry my father’s legacy forward while also building my own path in service,” O’Neal said.

Set to open in 2026, the Shaquille O’Neal Youth Development Complex represents more than just a state-of-the-art facility, it’s a living legacy of giving back, family impact, and generational purpose. With Taahirah at the helm of this new phase, the next generation of Las Vegas youth is about to have access to the kind of opportunities that turn dreams into destinies.

Cover photo: Shaq’s Oldest Daughter, Taahirah O’Neal, Joins Her Father’s $24 Million Mission to Empower Las Vegas Youth/ Photo credit: @WhoIsRel/Taahirah O’Neal/Instagram