Blue boombox, hip-hop track and loads of swagger. That was all it took Amir “Aura” Khan to become the most talked about person in college basketball – and he’s not even playing.
Khan is the student manager for the McNeese Cowboys men’s basketball team. No three points. No dunks. Just the vibes. And now, as the Cowboys return to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, he’s bringing the boombox with him.
The native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, went viral in February 2025 after posting a video of himself leading the Cowboys on the court against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi while playing Lud Foe’s “In & Out” on a blue boombox hanging around his neck.
This clip went viral on social media. And with McNeese locked in the 2025 NCAA tournament, Khan’s reputation took a hit with it.
“It feels like a dream and I will wake up one day,” said Khan Front office sports. “It doesn’t really make sense.”
His bio on McNeese’s official website describes him as “the most talked about college basketball executive in the country.”
During the Cowboys’ 2025 championship, the cheerleaders wore shirts — and the players wore socks — with his face on them. Khan became the unpopular mascot of the Cinderella story that has gripped college basketball fans across the country.
And Khan? He kept making fun of the whole thing.
“If they kept the manager’s statistics for wiping wet spots on the court, I would put in Wilt Chamberlain’s numbers,” Khan said, according to his biography of McNeese.
McNeese Secures Another March Madness Bid
The Cowboys earned the No. 1 seed. 12 in 2025 with a 28-6 record and 19-1 mark in Southland Conference play. They won the Southland Conference Tournament – the second in a row under then coach Will Wade.
McNeese quickly became a fan favorite, largely because of Khan, and the momentum picked up significantly when they upset No. 5 Clemson in the first round. That was the school’s first March Madness win.
Purdue eliminated the Cowboys in the Round of 32, ending a shot at a first appearance in the Sweet 16. But by then, Khan was already a celebrity.
Now a year later, McNeese finished the 2025-2026 regular season 28-5, tied with Stephen F. Austin. SFA holds a slight edge in conference play at 20-2, compared to McNeese’s 19-3.
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But the Cowboys secured their March Madness bid by upsetting SFA in the Southland Conference Tournament – their third straight victory over the Southland champions.
They also received the No. 12 seed and will face No. 5 seed Vanderbilt on March 19. Another David-vs.-Goliath matchup. Another chance for Khan to steal the show.
Amir ‘Aura’ Khan Scored 20+ Brand Deals
Khan’s viral fame didn’t just win over his fans. It was translated into real money.
He made more than 20 endorsement deals during the 2025 tournament, according to Front Office Sports. His partners include Buffalo Wild Wings, TickPick, TurboTax and Insomnia Cookies — brands that tend to chase elite athletes, not the guy with the equipment bag.
Khan has his favorites among all those deals: a bobblehead made in his likeness, and a Topps sports card.
“I collected sports cards as a child,” said Khan. “To have mine, and to have it at Topps, it’s special. I don’t think there’s anything like it.”
The volume of interest in the product became so great that Khan had to hire a manager to manage it all.
The NCAA has never prohibited managers from signing NIL agreements, but managers rarely have enough public profile to attract supporters. Khan is believed to be the first student manager to win the NIL championships.
Student supervisors usually do not receive compensation, although some may receive scholarships. The NIL era began in 2021, allowing players — and viral figures like Khan — to capitalize on March Madness.
All March Madness Roads Lead Back to McNeese Basketball
Khan’s path since last year’s tournament has not been a straight line.
After the 2025 run, he followed coach Wade to NC State. He was re-enrolled as a sophomore there due to credit transfer issues – a frustrating setback for someone who had already enrolled.
But the deviation did not last long. Khan was transferred back to McNeese after a few months. He will complete his degree in just a few semesters.
His return means he’s back where the magic began, and just in time to run another tournament.
As for her future, Khan is interested in a career in communications or coaching, and hopes McNeese will hire her as a graduate assistant next year.
He grew up in Lake Charles, just a few miles from campus, and spent his college years putting the game on the side.
But his sudden fame opened doors he never expected. Khan is open to social media as a possible career path, though he is still looking into what that will look like.
“For everything that happened last year, a door was opened [to] being on social media as a profession. What that will look like, I don’t know,” said Khan.
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One thing is clear: when the Cowboys take the court against Vanderbilt on March 19, all eyes will once again be on the guy who doesn’t play a single minute but somehow steals the show.
