Bruins' Shareef O'Neal Sidelined By Heart Surgery

WESTWOOD, CA — UCLA Freshman Shareef O'Neal will miss the upcoming basketball season to have heart surgery, he announced Friday. But the son of Hall of Famer and former Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal, said he's just grateful to be alive thanks to the doctors at UCLA, who discovered his heart condition during a exam.

Though it ended his season before it began, it won't end his career, the teen said in a video posted to social media.

"I know it's an injury that requires surgery, so I'll be having heart surgery and I'll be out a couple months and after that I'll be back," he says in the video. "A lot of people are asking if it's career-ending. The answer is absolutely not. Just a little bump in the road. ..."

The condition was discovered after O'Neal "felt funny" during on of his first summer practices with UCLA. The team's medical staff gave him a heart monitor and told him to

Alex Timiraos, associate director of communications, said O'Neal would remain enrolled in class and on the men's basketball team during this redshirt year.

"The UCLA men's basketball program completely supports Shareef and his family as he gets this issue resolved," Timiraos said.

The 6-feet-9 inch O'Neal, 18, attended Crossroads School in Santa Monica.

O'Neal vowed to spend the year devoted to his studies, getting his health back and preparing for next season.

"Thank God the UCLA medical staff caught it early," he told TMZ. "I'll be back in no time."

City News Service Contributed to this report. Photo: Youtube screengrab