UNC and NC State once recruited Shaq. Why he’s back in ACC country as DJ Diesel
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A prolific NBA player and popular basketball broadcaster is headed to Chapel Hill — for a football game.
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Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal will perform — as DJ Diesel — Saturday ahead of the North Carolina-East Tennessee State football game.
“UNC-Chapel Hill, the Diesel is coming,” O’Neal said in a video posted Friday. “I know it’s 10 a.m., but I better see you there.”
O’Neal is the first performer in the UNC “Chapel Thrill” pregame concert series.
“Hosting DJ Diesel as our first artist sets the tone for the season,” UNC Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer Rick Barakat said in a statement. “He has a tremendous personality and is an incredible talent that I know our fans will enjoy.”
This is the second time O’Neal has performed before an ACC game this season. He hosted a pregame event at the Virginia-N.C. State game and led UVA students in anti-N.C. State cheers.
While it’s not abnormal for O’Neal to perform under his stage name, his connection to UNC and N.C. State have made his appearances a little more interesting.
O’Neal still considers New Jersey home, but he spent part of his childhood in Texas. After moving to San Antonio, O’Neal attended Robert G. Cole High School, located on an Army base, and helped his team compile a 68-1 record over two years. The team won a state championship during his senior year.
He was heavily courted in high school — including by N.C. State and UNC — before settling on LSU, adding a layer of intrigue to his recent musical acts.
O’Neal has shared his experiences on the Dan Patrick Show and the Knuckleheads podcast, part of the Players Tribune.
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He first visited Carolina, but admitted it wasn’t the right fit.
“I went to North Carolina. Rick Fox showed me around,” O’Neal said during the Knuckleads podcast. “(Chapel Hill) was too, let me say this without being disrespectful, it wasn’t ‘hood’ enough for me. It was too, ‘Hey sir,’ I don’t like that.”
He then visited N.C. State, still led by head coach Jim Valvano. O’Neal said he respected Valvano, and the Wolfpack had the “original” Shack in Charles Shackleford.
“That’s actually where I got my name and my identity,” O’Neal told the Dan Patrick Show. “I was actually wanting to play behind him, but I said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna be my own Shaq and take it down to Baton Rouge.’”
O’Neal told Knuckleheads he took Shackleford’s “whole” style, but confirmed he thought there couldn’t be “Shack” and “Shaq.”
At LSU, he was twice named SEC Player of the Year, and he was the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.
O’Neal played 19 seasons in the NBA, won four Championships, and has his number retired by three franchises.
Sept. 12 vs. ETSU: DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal)
Oct. 3 vs. Notre Dame: Chase Rice
Oct. 24 vs. Syracuse: Parmalee
Oct. 31 vs. Miami: Neon Trees
Nov. 14 vs. Louisville: Waka Flocka Flame
Nov. 28 vs. NC State: 38 Special
This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 12:34 PM with the headline “UNC and NC State once recruited Shaq. Why he’s back in ACC country as DJ Diesel.”
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