Beyond the Buzzer: Shaqir O’Neal

In his final year, the senior forward prepares for a season of leadership and culture change

Jack Dann, Chris D. Johnson, Zachary Hernandez, and Eli Keller • November 4, 2025

Sacramento State senior forward Shaqir O’Neal, son of new Sacramento State general manager and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, has his sights set on changing the culture of the program as a leader and veteran player.

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About the Contributors

Jack Dann, Sports Editor

(he/him) Jack Dann is a third-year transfer student from Napa County, serving as the sports editor in his second semester with The State Hornet. After gaining a following for talking about the Sacramento Kings and the Raiders on social media, Jack covered the Sacramento State women’s basketball team in his first semester with The State Hornet. Jack has experience in multiple areas of sports, as an athlete (baseball, basketball and water polo), as a scout (college basketball) and now as a reporter. He is pursuing a career in sports media, hoping to cover sports and work in the field he loves.

Chris D. Johnson, Sports Editor

(he/him) Chris D. Johnson is a senior journalism major in his third semester at The State Hornet. After spending his previous two semesters as an arts & entertainment staffer, he has made the jump to the sports editor position. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, finding new music and spending time with family and friends.

Zachary Hernandez, Multimedia Editor

(he/him) Zachary Hernandez is a senior communication studies major, entering his second semester at The State Hornet. This will be his first semester as the multimedia editor. In his free time, he enjoys relaxing, hanging out with friends, playing videos games, working on graphic design and filming. He hopes to have his own creative agency and help businesses develop their brands.

Eli Keller, Multimedia Staffer

(he/him) Eli Keller is a junior majoring in journalism. This is his first semester with The State Hornet, where he is a member of the multimedia staff. He loves film and ultimately wants to work in news or on documentaries. He watches a lot of news, reads a lot of books and spends a lot of time outdoors.