If you’d been on basketball Twitter (or TikTok) around late February 2025, you’ve probably come across that clip—the one where a McNeese State student manager is rapping every single word to a song while walking out with the team. That guy? Amir Khan. And somehow, in just a matter of days, he became one of the most beloved figures in college basketball.

But it’s not just about the music. It’s the energy. The confidence. The vibe. Every time McNeese State takes the court, Amir is right there, bringing a level of hype that’s impossible to ignore. Some people are calling him “The Aura King.” Others are saying he’s “College Basketball’s Ultimate Glue Guy.” One thing’s for sure—Amir Khan isn’t your average team manager.

What is Amir Khan’s Role with the McNeese State Cowboys? A look into his viral pre-game ritual 

It started like any other game day for Amir Khan. The McNeese State Cowboys were gearing up for battle, and as usual, Khan had the responsibility of carrying the team’s massive boom box, leading them out of the tunnel. It was a role he had taken on since last season—one that usually flew under the radar.

But on this particular night, something was different. The song choice. Most of the time, Khan doesn’t even know the track the players pick for their walk-out. He just vibes along, nodding his head, feeding off their energy. But this time? This time, the moment was his.

As the first few beats of In & Out by Lud Foe echoed through the tunnel, Khan’s face lit up. He didn’t just rap along—he delivered. Word for word. Bar for bar. No hesitation, no stumbles—just pure confidence. The players saw it. They felt it. They hyped him up, pushing him to go harder.

By the time the team burst onto the court, the energy was electric. McNeese went on to dominate Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, cruising to a 73-57 victory. But that was just the beginning. What happened next? The internet happened.

Phillip Mitchell Jr., McNeese’s assistant athletic director of creative media, captured the moment and posted it online. Soon after, the clip was reposted by College Basketball Content (@CBBContent) on X (formerly Twitter). The caption? “Bro in the glasses has aura.”

The video exploded. 3.2 million views. 80,000 likes. Overnight, Khan—once just another student manager grinding behind the scenes—became the most talked-about figure in college hoops. And honestly his work being a student manager isn’t glamorous.

It’s early mornings, late nights, and a lot of grunt work. Setting up practice. Rebounding for players. Wiping up wet spots. Doing laundry. Packing travel bags. It’s all the behind-the-scenes stuff that keeps a program running but rarely gets recognition. McNeese head coach Will Wade—who himself started as a student manager at Clemson—gets it. He knows how important guys like Khan are. “He’s one of those guys who never has a bad day,” Wade says. “He jokes around with the players. The players joke around with him.” 

For Khan, everything around him, he’s just soaking it all in. “If I can hype the team up in any way, I’m going to try to do that and play my role,” Khan said. “I don’t really dictate a lot of what happens on the court like the coaches and players do, so whatever I can do to help, I’m going to try to do it.”

Well, Amir—you’re doing way more than just helping. And college basketball loves you for it. But, the story now looks engaging wasn’t really like this from the very beginning.

Where is Amir Khan from? Why did he choose McNeese State Cowboys?

Amir Khan is a hometown guy through and through. He grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the same city where McNeese State is located. But funny enough, McNeese wasn’t always part of his plan. Originally, Khan was supposed to attend a small community college. That was the idea, at least.

But like a lot of parents out there, his mom had different plans. She wanted him to go to McNeese, so that’s exactly where he ended up. Fast forward a few years, and everything started to click into place.

It might have just started with Will Wade—yes, the former LSU coach—being hired to lead the program. For Khan, a lifelong LSU fan, this was huge. “He provided an energy that I’ve never seen from a coach, and it made me want to work for him,” Khan said. So when Wade took the job at McNeese, it was a no-brainer—Khan had to find a way to be part of it.

Along with two of his high school friends, Landry Donham and TJ Richard, he jumped at the opportunity to volunteer as a student manager. And just like that, what started as a simple decision to attend McNeese—thanks to a little push from his mom—turned into a life-changing journey.

Does Amir Khan Play Professional Basketball?

Amir Khan might not be suiting up and dropping buckets in the pros, but don’t get it twisted—he’s making his mark on the game in a way few ever do.

As a student manager for McNeese State, he’s the guy behind the scenes, making sure everything runs like a well-oiled machine. Mornings start early, rebounding for players during shooting workouts. Then, it’s setting up practices, keeping things organized, and handling the not-so-glamorous tasks that keep a team going.

But when game day hits? That’s when Amir steps into the spotlight. For the 2025 season, McNeese played in some of college basketball’s toughest arenas—places like Alabama and Mississippi State, where the energy is electric. For Amir, just being in those environments is surreal.

Amir has bigger dreams. When he graduates, he’s aiming for a spot as a graduate assistant, with his sights set on a future in coaching. For now, though, McNeese has the ultimate “Aura” guy on their side, and it’s paying off. The Cowboys rolled at 23-6 and sat at the top of the Southland Conference in 2025. Whatever Amir’s doing—it’s working.