On the Court With... Shaquille O'Neal Read Online Free PDF Page A

School. Just like Liberty Hills only one year
     earlier, Clarksville tried everything to get Shaquille in foul trouble. The strategy almost worked.
    At the start of the fourth quarter, Cole led comfortably, 53–44. Shaquille already had 30 points. Then he was whistled for
     his fourth foul. Coach Madura pulled him from the game and hoped his team could hold on.
    But now Clarksville stormed back. Cole couldn't score, and with only five minutes remaining in the game their lead was down
     to one point, 54–53.
    On the Cougar bench, Coach Madura looked at Shaquille.
    “If I put you back in, can you stay away from your fifth foul?” he screamed above the noise of the crowd.
    Shaquille set his jaw and looked at his coach. “Yes, Coach,” he said. “I can.”
    “Get in there,” yelled Madura. He knew he was taking a chance. If Shaquille picked up a quick foul,Clarksville would have the advantage in the game's final minutes. But if he waited any longer to put Shaquille back in the
     game, it might be too late.
    Shaquille tossed off his warm-up jacket and jogged onto the court. The crowd roared its approval. Shaquille knew he had to
     play smart. But at the same time, he knew he had to score.
    Cole moved the ball upcourt as Shaquille tried to get in position near the basket. But instead of forcing his way in close
     and taking a chance on committing a foul, he stopped a step short, eight or ten feet from the hoop. He put up his hand and
     called for a pass.
    A teammate lofted the ball over the defense. Shaquille went up and came down with the pass. The defense scrambled to block
     Shaquille's path to the basket. For most of the game, he had driven hard to the hoop for dunks.
    But now Shaquille had another plan. Instead of driving to the basket, he spun quickly, jumped, and fired up a soft jumper.
     Clarksville didn't have time to react.
    Swish!
Cole now led 56–53!
    Shaquille wasn't finished. The next time down the court, he got the ball again. Instead of shooting, hefaked a shot, drew the defense toward him, and then threw a sweet pass to a teammate for a layup. When Clarksville tried to
     respond, Shaquille intercepted a pass and started the fast break, leading to another two points for Cole.
    Clarksville was becoming desperate. They raced down the court and hurriedly threw up a shot.
    Up, up, up went Shaquille, his arm reaching for the ball at the top of its arc.
    Slam!
He rejected the shot to a teammate. He was quickly fouled and sank the two foul shots. Moments later, the game ended. Cole
     had won, 68–60. They were state champs!
    Shaquille had never been happier in his entire life. This, too, was a feeling he wanted to remember.

Chapter Three: 1989–92
Big Man on Campus
    Shaquille could hardly wait to begin college. But he still had a little basketball to play before leaving for LSU.
    After the high school season ended, Shaquille was invited to play in several national tournaments for the best high school
     players in the country. If there was any doubt whether Shaquille was ready for college basketball, Shaquille's performances
     proved that he was. At both the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic and the McDonald's All American Game, Shaquille was a star. The
     McDonald's game was broadcast on television, and fans all over the country got their first look at Shaquille. From his performance,
     some college basketball observers believed that LSU had a chance to win the national championship in the 1989–90 season. And
     Shaquille hadn't even started school yet!
    Expectations were high when he arrived in BatonRouge, Louisiana, to begin his collegiate career. But no one's expectations were higher than those of Shaquille himself. As
     important as basketball was to him, his education was equally important. His father had made sure he understood that.
    Whenever anyone talked about Shaquille's potential to play professionally, Phil Harrison quickly turned the conversation to
     Shaquille's potential as a human being, saying,