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Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal recently shared the unexpected reason he chose to attend Louisiana State University (LSU), and it wasn’t just about basketball or head coach Dale Brown. Appearing on The OGs Show, O’Neal revealed that his decision to attend LSU was partly influenced by a girl named Madison he met during a visit.

“I went to the game, and there were all these beautiful, curly-haired, blue-eyed, green-eyed girls at the stadium,” O’Neal recalled. “They were chanting, ‘Shaq, Shaq, Shaq.’ One girl, Madison, stood out—she was stunning.”

Madison, who was a 24-year-old senior at the time, left a lasting impression on a then 16-year-old Shaq. “She said, ‘You come here, I’ll tutor you.’ And I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do with you,'” Shaq humorously shared.

During that same football game in Baton Rouge in 1988, O’Neal was further swayed by the crowd’s reaction when his name was announced. “The crowd went wild, and I thought, ‘Man, they did all that for me? I’m signing with LSU,'” he said.

Though O’Neal initially credited LSU’s basketball program for his decision, it seems his choice was influenced by more than just athletics. That moment sealed his commitment, and he went on to sign his national letter of intent to play for LSU.

During his three seasons with LSU, O’Neal averaged 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game, becoming one of the most dominant players in college basketball history. He was named SEC Player of the Year twice and won the Adolph Rupp Trophy in 1991. Despite his individual success, team championships eluded him, with his best NCAA Tournament run ending in the second round.

Shaq’s Decision Not to Attend UNC Because of Rick Fox

O’Neal also revealed on The Big Podcast with Shaq that he considered North Carolina but ultimately decided against it because of then-UNC star Rick Fox. “I didn’t like Rick Fox. He took me to a party, and all the girls went to him,” Shaq joked.

While choosing LSU over UNC may have impacted his team’s success, as UNC made the Final Four in 1991, Shaq’s decision to attend LSU will always be remembered as a pivotal moment in his career—and one influenced by more than just basketball.