So I summoned the seventh graders to my desk to ask them the most important question of their young lives.
Who is your favorite NBA player?
I leaned back and waited for the inevitable response: Michael Jordan. Instead, they shouted in unison "Shaq!"
Yes, the basketball torch has been passed. Shaquille O'Neal is the main man for the younger set these days. And you know what? He deserves it.
Yes, I know the many raps on the rap star.
Shaq can't shoot free throws and he hasn't won an NBA championship.
He has too many off-the-court distractions and, of course, he makes too much money.
Well, guess what? He is only 24 years old and still has an excellent chance to slip several championship rings on his fingers.
The Lakers have quietly built themselves into a championship contender, if not this season certainly the next two or three after the Bulls are forced to dismantle their dynasty.
Some of the criticism is valid. Just like the great Wilt Chamberlain, the 7-foot-1, 300-pound Shaq has trouble knocking down free throws.
But check out some of these stats: He is one of only 11 players in NBA history to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in his first four seasons, with a 27.2 career scoring average and 12.5 rebounds.
Last season with Orlando, he averaged 26.6 points per game, 11.0 rebounds, 2.13 blocked shots and shot 57.3 percent from the floor. When he gets the ball low in the paint, put the points on the board.
Those are big-time numbers, especially when you consider that he is double teamed almost every time down the court.
O'Neal plays hard every minute that he is on the floor, which is more than you can say about some of the other high-priced NBA stars.
WHAT I admire even more about Shaq, though, is what he does off the court.
He stayed for three years at Louisiana State when he could have left after two - and he's still working on his business degree.
He has never been in trouble of any kind, which is impressive for a young man with so much money. No drugs, no arrests, no fights. Nothing.
Instead of acting like a fool or a thug, Shaq spent his time making two albums, with the first one selling more than one million copies. And he has starred in two major movies: "Blue Chips" and "Kazaam." He filmed a third movie this summer called "Steel".
He has a candy bar appropriately named "Mr. Big" and has appeared in many commercials, including some really cool ones for Pepsi.
Shaq didn't spend all of his time on money-making projects, though, while back in Orlando.
He was very active in community service projects such as "Shaq Paq," "Wish Kids," "Shaqsgiving," "Shaq-a-Claus" and as a spokesman for "Reading is Fundamental."
I'm sure he will continue to work with causes that help young people in the Los Angeles area.
Much of the credit should go to Shaq's mother and stepfather. Obviously, they raised their talented son well.
But O'Neal himself has already accomplished so much in his 24 years, on and off the court. He is a true role model, when they are needed so desperately.
Shaq is coming to Hawaii for the Lakers training camp, which starts Friday. Understandably, the team's practices are closed to the public, but I would recommend checking him out in one of the two preseason games on Oct. 10 and 12 against Denver at the Special Events Arena.
The kids who gathered around my desk said that Shaquille O'Neal is now their favorite.
An excellent choice.