GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The regular season for women's college basketball is set to begin in November. While we're still a few months away, First Coast News caught up with Florida Gators Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley at a booster event.
The Gators will have a high-profile name on the roster: Me'Arah O'Neal, the youngest daughter of Shaquille O'Neal.
Me'Arah O'Neal has been on Gators' radar for a few years.
"Her willingness to learn, her eagerness to want to be the best, and her ability to want to approach what she's doing knowing she's in a good environment. If she just puts her best foot forward every day, she's going to be a tremendous player," said Finley.
O'Neal had already committed to LSU, which is her dad's alma mater. But Finley said after a few conversations with Me'Arah, it was a no-brainer to make the switch.
"Her and her family are generous, they're thoughtful, they're kind, they're competitive, they're very, very smart," Finley added.
She said it wasn't hard to sell the Florida Gators to O'Neal.
"I think we're genuine, we mean what we say. We have a deep care and investment."
Last season, Florida finished 11th in the Southeastern Conference with a 16-16 overall record and a 5-11 record in conference. This season's team is a young one, but Coach Finley said they're putting in the work to prove they belong.
Finley said, "They're really connected. They're great competitors, they just come from watching them work out in the weight room, they're throwing med balls and then sprinting and competing against each other."
As she enters her third season as the head coach, her long-term goal is to bring Florida its first women's basketball title.
"That's a tall task and a lot of things have to go right in order for that to happen, so in that you need to have everybody on the same page, pointed in the same direction, understanding what the ultimate mission, what the ultimate goal is," said Finley.
Summer workouts are underway for the Gators, with their season set to start in the fall. The Gators have their first game on November 4. Their opponent hasn't been finalized yet.