From boombox to NIL Deals: The rise of McNeese’s viral March Madness manager, Amir “Aura” Khan

McNeese State made headlines for their shocking upset over No. 5 Clemson in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but the No. 12 seed’s magical March Madness run came to an end in the second round when they lost to No. 4 Purdue on Saturday.

However, the Cowboys' legend lives on in their team manager, Amir Khan, who has become a national viral sensation.

What to know about Amir Khan, McNeese State’s viral sensation

Amir “Aura” Khan is McNeese State’s 22-year-old student manager. He’s gone viral on social media for walking with the men’s basketball team out of the tunnel while holding a boombox playing rap songs and singing along to songs like Lud Foe’s “In & Out”.

“Not only did I know the song but it is one of my favorite songs,” Khan told The Associated Press. “So yeah, I just rapped a few of the lyrics. Some of the players saw that I was rapping it and they just kind of hyped me up telling me, ‘Hey, just keep going, rap for us!’ We had the camera on us, but that’s usually not a new thing. So yeah, I just I just rapping and having fun with it.”

The video went viral, garnering over 250,000 views on X, and his rise in popularity has led to Khan becoming the first student manager to earn a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal. He’s earned endorsement deals with Buffalo Wild Wings, TickPick, Insomnia Cookies, Under Armour, and TurboTax.

Ahead of McNeese’s game against Purdue, Khan came out wearing a custom yellow jumpsuit with “Aura” printed on the back, walking onto the court with the players, boombox in tow.

“If they kept manager stats for rebounding and wiping up wet spots on the court, I’d put up Wilt Chamberlain numbers,” Khan said. In addition to his NIL deals, there are also T-shirts and socks with Amir Khan’s face on them as his fame skyrocketed.

Khan said he wasn’t expecting the social media firestorm and all the attention he’s receiving now, but he’s happy to bring support and attention to the school, and he feels validated after contributing to the team over the years.

What’s next for Khan after McNeese defeat?

McNeese State coach Will Wade is leaving for North Carolina State this offseason, and is reportedly planning to take Khan with him as a graduate manager.

Though he’ll move on to different things, Khan’s legend will live on in Lake Charles as he’s brought the school into the national spotlight.

“It means the world to me,” Khan said. “It’s the only city I’ve ever known, really. So for Lake Charles to be on the map now and McNeese - that means a lot that it’s getting the attention that it deserves.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.