When Eric Kilburn Jr.’s phone went around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, he picked up to hear the unmistakable voice of basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.
“I was stunned,” said Eric, a 14-year-old from Michigan. “My soul left my body for a moment, I was so shocked.”
The call was the icing on the cake — or perhaps the laces on the shoes as Eric’s mom Rebecca puts it — to a month of March madness after Hometown Life, part of the USA TODAY Network, wrote about the Kilburn family’s quest to lose size 23 to find shoes for Eric.
The story struck a chord with readers who tried to help Eric find suitable shoes. Readers’ advice included shoe-making instructions, company recommendations, and usually urging the Kilburns to “reach out to Shaq”, known for his kindness and generosity.
The Kilburns didn’t have O’Neal under speed dial, nor did they expect the star to notice their struggle. But after the Kilburns’ story went viral and resulted in offers from both Puma and Under Armor to make custom boots, O’Neal took notice too.
Erik’s story: A mother searches the world for shoes her 14-year-old son needs. He has size 23 feet.
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In his call to the Kilburn family, O’Neal, who wears size 22 shoes, sympathized with Eric’s predicament. O’Neal told Eric that when he was the same age, his mother couldn’t find the shoes he needed either.
Eric, who sprained his ankle last fall playing JV football without cleats, asked O’Neal if he had ever played football in high school. The answer was yes, but O’Neal also suffered an injury and six months later, he began playing the sport that would bring him fame and fortune.
“Shaq said he made $900 million listening to his mom and dad, so he told me to listen to my parents,” said Eric.
O’Neal, who spent 19 years in the NBA, hasn’t had to worry about shoes for decades and soon Eric won’t have to either.
Robb Cropp, Under Armour’s Senior Director of Footwear Development, scanned and measured Eric’s feet on Sunday and Puma plans to do the same this week, with custom shoes that take about two months to arrive.
In the meantime, Reebok sent five pairs of size 22 shoes that they originally made for O’Neal, and while Eric is still believed to need a size 23, these have more toe room than the Nikes the freshman wore and are more comfortable .
“I’ve never seen my son smile so wide,” said Rebecca Kilburn. “It’s hard to get a teenager’s smile, but he’s over the moon with his shoe options.”
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Rebecca Kilburn said that O’Neal told Eric Jr. had said he would like to get him dress shoes from a man he knows who makes them up to size 26, and also told him to call if he needed anything.
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Eric Jr. has already reached out to O’Neal a second time, expressing his gratitude when the Reeboks arrived the day after their call.
O’Neal’s text to him on Thursday is one that left an even bigger mark than their respective footprints.
“When he and I were texting about shoes,[O’Nealsaid’There’salotmoretocomebigmanIloveyou'”Ericsaid”Thisistheultimate”
Follow reporter Susan Bromley on Twitter @SusanBromley10.
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This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Teen who needs size 23 shoes gets special call from Shaquille O’Neal
