Shaq on being recruited by LSU during a football game: "If you want the 7-foot All-American to come to LSU, make some noise"

Everyone loves a good college story, much less one coming from one of the greatest NBA players ever, Shaquille O'Neal .

The two-time All-American was a phenom in college, twice winning the SEC Player of the Year award and the Associated Press and UPI Player of the Year award. However, it took the utmost effort from everyone at LSU to secure his signature from other programs across the country.

From unknown to top recruit

Having first been discovered in Germany by longtime LSU coach Dale Brown, O'Neal didn't initially think he'd make it on the college scene. Shaquille was pretty big for his age, standing at 6'9'' even as a 15-year-old high school kid, and wasn't the most athletic.

However, when Shaq and his family returned to the United States and enrolled him in a high school in Texas, all signs pointed to a rising star athlete. O'Neal quickly turned from an unknown player to one of the top prospects in the nation. Scouts labeled him as a perfect combo of Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson , thanks to his explosive nature.

LSU sent multiple staff members to watch him play, and their first impression of the man-child was all they needed to get him to play at Louisiana. They also made sure to give Shaquille a massive ovation when he visited the school in 1988 and was announced to the crowd at the Tigers football stadium.

"I went to a football game. So I'm a shy kid," O'Neal began . "I'm just sitting there, and then the lights go off, and the lights come on. If you want the 7-foot All-American from San Antonio to come to LSU, make some noise. And the light came on, and the crowd went crazy."

The school wasn't the only program that the future NBA champion visited. He also took trips to North Carolina, Louisville, Illinois, and North Carolina State, all of which tried to win him over, but none could match LSU's drive.

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No second thoughts

The star prospect was a high school great, having led Robert G. Cole High School to a 68-1 record during his two years and also winning the state championship in his senior year.

Shaq's relationship with Coach Brown also helped fuel his commitment to the program. But when he saw the reception he received in Baton Rouge, he wasn't going to overthink things.

"I said, give me the papers. I'm about to sign the hell out of LSU. That's why I went to LSU," O'Neal added.

The NCAA has since banned this recruiting tactic. However, Coach Brown got someone he had on his radar from his first encounter with Shaq in Germany four years prior.

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