The 24-year-old-has twice undergone open heart surgery

DAUGHTER of NBA star Jermaine O’Neal Asjia O’Neal is hoping to follow in her father’s footsteps and make it big in the world of sports.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball star, 24, was drafted as the No. 1 overall in the Pro Volleyball Federation Draft earlier this month.

Asjia O’Neal has been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation draft Credit: 2023 Anadolu Agency

The Texas Longhorns star has twice undergone open heart surgeryCredit: 2022 NCAA Photos

She is the daughter of former NBA star Jermaine O’Neal Credit: 2014 NBAE

Asjia, daughter of six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal, underwent open-heart surgery twice, making her draft an incredible feat.

Per ESPN, she was told by doctors in 2019: “It’s not safe for you to play volleyball anymore.”

O’Neal underwent her first surgery as a teenager in 2013 which aimed to fix a mitral valve leak.

The heart condition had worsened by the time she joined the Texas Longhorns five years later.

Asjia went under the knife again in January 2020 after red-shirting the 2018 season.

This time the surgery was a success, with the Longhorns star making a stunning recovery and appearing in 83 matches over the next three seasons.

Standing at 6-foot-3, she has since become one of the country’s most dominating middle blockers.

She helped Texas win the 2022 NCAA Championship, recording a career-high .443 hitting percentage.

O’Neal made her United States national team debut earlier this year and is in the midst of another successful college campaign.

The Longhorns will face No. 3 Wisconsin in the NCAA National Semifinal on December 14, with Asjia honored as a First Team All-American for the second-straight season.

Her incredible journey culminated in her being selected No. 1 overall in the inaugural PVF Draft.

O’Neal was selected first overall by the Columbus Fury.

Asjia’s father Jermaine was just 17 when he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1996.

He made history during his rookie year by becoming the youngest player to ever appear in an NBA game.

O’Neal finished his NBA career in 2014 after a season with the Golden State Warriors.

His career stats totaled 13,309 points, 7,261 rebounds, and 1,820 blocks.

O’Neal was selected by the Columbus Fury
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