.jpg)
2 hours ago
3
Amir Khan took the college basketball world by storm in 2025. One year on, he remains a reminder of the magic of March.
Khan entered tournament play a relative unknown, having avoided the spotlight while mopping floors and handing out towels as one of McNeese State’s managers. His distinctive flair could not be blighted as the Cowboys made their run through the tourney, however — not as he wielded his trusty boombox, fired off fiery rap lyrics and dressed in the finest furs.
Khan is stitched into the quilt of March’s mayhem, placed alongside other college basketball heavyweights like the late Sister Jean and “One Shining Moment.” His passion for his alma mater knows no bounds. Still, his whereabouts have garnered interest. Khan swapped McNeese State for an ACC powerhouse ahead of the 2026 season, only to make a stunning U-turn one month later.
Here’s what you need to know about Khan, his stunning departure from McNeese State and subsequent rebirth as manager to the stars with the Cowboys.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket
Who is Amir Khan?
Khan was the darling of the 2025 NCAA tournament, coming to prominence as McNeese State's manager. Known for his stirring rendition of classics like "In and Out" by Lud Foe, Khan was the name on the lips of a great many college basketball enthusiasts during the tournament. It didn't hurt that the Cowboys bested Clemson in the Round of 64, extending his time under the spotlight.
Never felt this much hype before a game—easily one of my all-time favorite filming moments😂🔥@McNeeseMBB x #BayouBandits pic.twitter.com/NSqphtjFlP
— “Who is PJ?” 🎞 (@Phil_UpOnMe) February 24, 2025A Lake Charles, Louisiana native, Khan grew up a stone's throw from McNeese State's campus. Despite his hometown ties, Khan actually grew up an LSU fan. He watched on as Will Wade brought the Tigers back to relevance, leading the side to three tournament appearances.
Wade's tenure in Baton Rouge ended in controversy. He was fired in March 2022, the same month the school was notified of allegations from the NCAA detailing several Level I violations involving Wade. He was summarily handed a two-year show-cause penalty.
McNeese State offered Wade a lifeline, hiring him upon the expiry of his ban. Khan was already enrolled at the school at the time of Wade's hire. He felt that the opportunity to serve under Wade was too good to pass up.
SN EXPERT BRACKETS: DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)
Khan is in his third season as the Cowboys' manager. His swiftness of feet is the stuff of legend in his slice of Louisiana, immortalized by a quote that features in his official managerial bio:
"If they kept manager stats for rebounding and wiping up wet spots on the court, I'd put up Wilt Chamberlain numbers."
That bravado rubbed off on the masses of viewers who tuned into McNeese State contests during the 2025 NCAA tourney.
"As a manager, you don't expect this kind of attention," Khan told The Sporting News in 2025. "So just seeing brands reach out to me, coaches from across the country, people saying 'I'm a big fan,' it means a lot to me. I appreciate all the love and support, but I never expected all of that. But I've definitely been enjoying all of it."
Amir Khan nickname
Khan's nickname is "Aura." The origins of the moniker are a bit murky, although it seems to have emerged after videos of Khan invoking famed rappers went viral.
"Define aura" pic.twitter.com/lUTaLoOhn6
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) February 25, 2025"Some of the players they mess around with me and they're like, 'hey, look, it's Aura,'" Khan said. "But I definitely still go by Amir."
Amir Khan March Madness highlights
Khan racked up the highlights in his McNeese State's fifth-ever tournament appearance. He led the Cowboys out with his patented boombox ahead of their proceedings.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 20, 2025THE AURA IS PALPABLE @McNeeseMBB pic.twitter.com/3uu5tAWWTo
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2025Khan was central to McNeese State's postgame celebrations following its upset win over the Tigers.
MORE: College basketball's 10 highest-paid players in 2026
Amir Khan celebrating the McNeese W 👏 pic.twitter.com/asOwlGssPT
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 20, 2025He dressed to the nines, too, striding to games in a custom "Aura" jumper.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 22, 2025He wasn't the only one feeling inspired. McNeese State's cheerleaders took notice, rocking socks adorned with his distinctive countenance.
McNeese cheerleaders are wearing Amir Khan socks pic.twitter.com/MwW5ecbf5H
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 20, 2025Khan became a star under the lights during March Madness.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 20, 2025He bumped shoulders with fellow luminaries throughout the competition, none more noteworthy than Spike Lee.
Spike Lee 🤝 Amir Khan pic.twitter.com/l5jUfnCKgA
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 22, 2025Why did Amir Khan transfer to NC State?
Following the Cowboys' memorable run in tournament play, Wade drew interest as one of the coaching carousel's biggest names. NC State was linked heavily with McNeese State's taskmaster during the tournament. Shortly after it was bounced, news broke that Wade agreed to a six-year deal with the ACC side.
Khan, a self-described Wade acolyte, planned on following him to Raleigh. CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported that Khan was set to field "additional roles and responsibilities" in his new home. Khan was tipped to become a graduate assistant, an apparent step up from his managerial role.
"Coach Wade called me himself to say, 'Amir, we would love to have you there,'" Khan told ESPN. "'We'd love to have you here.' ... For Coach Wade to call me personally and say that he wants me [at NC State], it meant a lot to me."
Wade offered Khan a platform to become a social media sensation during his time in McNeese State. That decision proved profitable for Khan, whose earnings from his NIL deals reportedly hang somewhere in the six figures range.
Why did Amir Khan return to McNeese?
Khan tried his luck in Raleigh. But after a few months at his new campus, he felt homesick.
So he decided to go home. Khan entered the transfer portal in Dec. 2025. By the end of the semester, he was back at McNeese
His decision to transfer was motivated by a few factors. Khan’s credits didn’t properly transfer, leaving him in something of an academic quagmire
"It pushed me back to being a sophomore,” Khan said. “So I’m a senior [at McNeese], so I decided to come back and get my degree. That was really the reason why I left in the middle of the season, so I could be [at McNeese] for next semester and try to graduate this upcoming semester."
He also yearned for the chance to return to his native Lake Charles.
“I just wanted to be back home,” he said. “I think NC State was amazing. I loved the city, loved the campus, loved the players on the team. There was no animosity whatsoever. I just wanted to be back with McNeese. It means a lot more to me to work for McNeese.”
English (US)