The McNeese State Cowboys made waves recently when they decided to sign student manager Amir Khan to an NIL deal.
It is one of the best stories in college basketball.

Who is Amir Khan?
A senior from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Khan is the heart and soul of this McNeese State team.
Known for his boom-boxing aura and ability to inspire his teammates, Khan is a major reason why the Cowboys are where they are in their season.
.@McNeeseMBB’s boom-boxing student manager, Amir Khan, has signed an NIL deal, per @kyletheboone.
The agreement has a financial incentive that increases with every NCAA Tournament game the Cowboys win.
Story: https://t.co/rljElh4CWq
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 14, 2025
According to insider Kyle Boone, inside Khan’s NIL deal from the school lies incentives that can stack up with every McNeese State NCAA Tournament win.
Team managers really are the heart and soul of college basketball in plenty of ways. While they might not be good enough to play on the team, they are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.
That includes scrubbing floors, getting chairs out for players during timeouts, making sure the players are hydrated, and keeping the good vibes going. Khan has done that and much more during his time with the Cowboys.
Can McNeese State Make an NCAA Tournament Run?
Anything is possible in the NCAA Tournament, especially a Cinderella team or two going on a run.
The 27-6 Cowboys, who just won the Southland Conference Tournament, feel they can beat anybody anywhere in the country.
The good news for them is that they could be a lower seed, which may cause some teams to sleepwalk on them in the earlier rounds.
Head coach Will Wade’s team has four players who are averaging double figures, which is never a fun thing if you are the opposing team. This will be the second consecutive season in which Wade has guided his team to the NCAA Tournament.
It is also just the second time in the last near quarter-century that the school has made it to the NCAA Tournament, which should bode well for Wade’s coaching future.
KEEP READING: NC State’s Head Coaching Candidates Features Will Wade
Whoever draws this team first in the NCAA Tournament should be aware of how elite this team is, and that includes its group of student managers.
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