O’Neal Expected to Announce Friday Whether He Will Leave LSU

Shaquille O’Neal, the All-American center from Louisiana State, has called a news conference for Friday amid speculation he will skip his last season at LSU to join the NBA.

The news conference is to be held at Fort Sam Houston, the Army base in San Antonio where O’Neal’s father is stationed, according to an announcement Wednesday by LSU and base officials.

ESPN reported that it has learned O’Neal will turn pro.

LSU Coach Dale Brown said he met Sunday with O’Neal and his family in San Antonio.

“They informed me that they would make a decision within a week’s time,” Brown said.

A few weeks ago, Brown said he advised O’Neal to turn pro because of what Brown perceived as the undue physical pounding O’Neal has received from opposing teams. However, Brown said he took a neutral stance during Sunday’s meeting.

“I gave them a list of pluses for staying in school and pluses for leaving,” Brown said. “I told them whatever their decision is, I’d back them 100%.”

O’Neal, 7 foot 1, turned 20 on March 6. A two-time All-American, he averaged 24.1 points, 14 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots as a junior this season.