Meet D’Aydrian Harding, the internet sensation who never left Wichita behind
Before the millions of views, the nationwide tour and the internet stardom, D’Aydrian Harding was just a kid from Wichita who loved to make people laugh.
This past Saturday night, he brought it all full circle.
The 23-year-old social media star, whose following spans more than 16 million people across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, returned to the city that raised him to host a high-energy, packed-to-the-walls “Basketball Takeover” at Wichita Sports Forum.
Around 5,000 fans, mostly teens and preteens who’d only seen him on screens, filled the venue to watch Harding and fellow creators like Cam Wilder, K Showtime, Lavar and JDub square off with local hoopers. Wichita Wizards star Kaelon Gary laced up. So did Wichita State newcomer Dre Kindell, who hit a step-back game-winner that sent the crowd into chaos and triggered a full-on court storm.
It looked like mayhem. It felt like joy. And for Harding, it meant everything.
“I just want to do good things for the city,” Harding said. “I want to be a good name in the city. I don’t ever want to be somebody who came from here and then never tried to show love again.”
A star is born — in the front row
Harding’s rise didn’t start with a strategy. It started with a moment.
In 2020, he was just another 18-year-old working at Dave & Buster’s, about to be laid off during the pandemic. Then came a concert by rapper DaBaby at Hartman Arena.
Harding was in the front row, rapping every word. His energy caught DaBaby’s attention. The artist pulled him on stage to perform a song. Friends recorded it. Harding posted the video. The next day, his TikTok following jumped by 50,000.
“But I didn’t want to just be known as the dude who DaBaby pulled up on stage,” Harding said. “So I just kept posting and posting and posting.”
His blend of bold humor, charisma and unfiltered energy struck a chord. As his following exploded into the millions, he looked for deeper connection. And he found it on YouTube.
“When you’re watching a video of mine for like 30 minutes, it feels like you’re best friends with me,” Harding said. “You basically know exactly who I am and that’s why I switched to YouTube.”
Now he balances a growing empire with long-form content, original music (he’s even recorded a track with DaBaby) and a merchandise line. But at the center of it all is one message: Stay Sober.
It’s not just his marketing slogan. It’s a mission.
“If I have all of these eyes on me and I have a predominantly teenage fan base, it’s almost wrong not to put a good message in front of them,” Harding said. “I want to spread a message that’s deeper than me just being funny all of the time. I want to tell them to do something positive and that’s something that was instilled in me since I was a kid.”
Staying grounded in Wichita
At one point, Harding figured he had to leave Wichita to make it big.
He moved to Atlanta for two years to be closer to other influencers. But the further he got from home, the more he realized he didn’t need a scene — he needed a support system.
“It made me realize that I don’t need nobody else to make videos with,” Harding said. “All I needed was my mom and my hometown friends. And that’s how I continue to make it happen.”
That loyalty — to his family, his friends, his hometown — is a big part of his appeal. He’s relatable in a way that feels real, even as his platform grows.
He still lives in Wichita. Still calls his mom, Demetria Whiting, his “momager.” She still runs most of the business side of things.
He bought her a house, a new car and gifted her $50,000 for her 50th birthday.
“My mom is the first priority,” he said. “As soon as the money started changing, I made sure I tried to repay her as much as I possibly could.”
Turns out his classmates at Northeast Magnet High School, where he graduated in 2019, were onto something when they voted him both Class Clown and Most Likely to Become Famous.
But Harding’s success is not from luck. It’s been earned through a relentless work ethic.
The camera may stop recording, but his brain is wired to never shut off.
“My chilling isn’t siting at home watching TV and doing nothing,” Harding said. “My chilling is being home editing all day or mocking up new merch designs or on the phone figuring out where I’m going next.”
That drive is part of what separates him, according to Wilder, a fellow influencer with more than 7 million TikTok followers.
“People love his personality and that’s a big reason why he blew up,” Wilder. “He makes people laugh and then he helps promote sobriety, which I think is pretty dope. And he’s just a great guy and brings the energy. He lights up the room anytime he comes around.”
Still, not everything about fame is positive.
“People start to look at you different and it’s like they think every single decision you make is based off how many followers you have,” Harding said. “Anything that people don’t like, they love to use that against me and that’s kind of annoying.”
Bringing the Internet to life
Saturday’s event was about more than hoops.
Harding poured thousands of his own dollars into making the event free to attend. Though he never played organized sports in high school, he was a regular at pickup games at the North YMCA. Now with a massive platform and a chance to spotlight Wichita’s basketball culture, Harding was determined to bring a high-energy hoops event back home.
It wasn’t about profit. It was about access, visibility, belonging. The kind of night a kid remembers years later.
“What made this event truly special wasn’t just the basketball,” Wichita Sports Forum wrote on Facebook. “It was the heart and intent behind it: to bring together a diverse crowd. Young and old, different races, genders and backgrounds from across Wichita and the Midwest beyond for a shared love of the game and community.”
Late in the night, an altercation away from the main gym led Wichita police to shut things down early. But for most who attended, that wasn’t the story.
“While a few individuals may have tried to steal the spotlight for the wrong reasons, the overwhelming majority reminded us of just how strong and united this community can be,” the Wichita Sports Forum wrote. “Over 2,500 people showed up and 99.9% came for the right reasons, to be part of something positive and inspiring. To witness a hometown hero in action. To connect. To celebrate.”
Harding admits he hasn’t fully processed the scale of his success. He stays busy. Head down. Always working.
But on a hot summer night in Wichita, he paused just long enough to give something back. He brought the internet to life and reminded the city that made him he’s still one of them.
“I do try to remember that this isn’t normal and I realize that this is crazy,” Harding said. “I still don’t know how I got here, but I’m thankful for everything and I’m going to keep pushing myself to the next big thing.”
This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 6:14 AM.
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