Shaquille O’Neal, Percy “Coach P” Miller and Privateer Basketball to Host Sacramento State in the Southwest Shootout

Shaquille O’Neal, Percy “Coach P” Miller and Privateer Basketball to Host Sacramento State in the Southwest Shootout

NEW ORLEANS — The Lakefront Arena will be more than a basketball court on Saturday, October 18. It will be a stage for unity, mentorship, and the power of possibility when the University of New Orleans men’s basketball team hosts Sacramento State in the Southwest Shootout.

The exhibition game, set for 1 p.m., comes with star power. Louisiana legends Shaquille O’Neal and Percy “Coach P” Miller are behind the event, joining forces to create an afternoon that blends hoops with hope. Sponsored by the Team Hope Foundation, the shootout aims to leave a mark far beyond the scoreboard.

More than 4,000 middle school students are expected to fill the stands, surrounded by community leaders, athletes, and celebrities from the NBA, NFL, and beyond. For Miller, the mission is clear: basketball is the hook, but empowerment is the goal.

“We want to show how coming together as a community can open doors and create possibilities for our young men,” Miller said. “This is bigger than basketball. We want to bring our community together and inspire the next generation. This game will be a celebration of unity, empowerment, and mentorship.”

On the court, the matchup itself is intriguing. Sacramento State arrives under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Bibby, the former NBA guard. With all 14 players on the Hornets’ roster being newcomers, the program is in the middle of a complete rebuild after a 7-25 season that saw them struggle in Big Sky Conference play.

For the Privateers, the exhibition offers a chance to sharpen their chemistry before the season officially begins. UNO opens at TCU on November 3 before returning home for a homecoming showdown with SUNO on November 8.

But this Saturday, the scoreboard may not be the headline. The Southwest Shootout is designed to remind New Orleans that basketball can be a bridge—to mentorship, to opportunity, and to the belief that the next generation has a place to shine.

In a city where sports often serve as a heartbeat, the Shootout is aiming to do more than entertain—it’s aiming to inspire.