Pro Basketball Player Kason Harrell “Churchboyfresh” Talks Basketball, Rapping, His Views On Toxic Relationships + More

ButterB: I just want to start out and say thank you for doing this Interview and welcome to 2KIB. This is going to be a very special interview because it is the first ever interview on this site and when looking for people to interview, you were top of the list, cause I know you will keep it butter and authentic.

Kason: Appreciate it Butter, thanks for having me

ButterB: Let’s talk about  Basketball, you just finished your illustrious career at Purdue Fort Wayne. Tell us about your experience there and how that came to be

Kason: Thank you so much I appreciate that. Well, it was the summer before my senior year of HS. I had just lost an offer from UNC Wilmington so I was really stressed out because I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. After that, I had an AAU tournament in Louisville and coach Ben Botts who was an assistant at (then IPFW) was there and he saw me play. When he first showed interest, I wasn’t really too familiar with them and I didn’t even know they were D1. But then my dad did research and saw that they were, in fact, D1 and even came close to making the NCAA tournament which sparked more interest from me. We then scheduled an official visit, I was able to meet coach Coffman and the guys, and I prayed and asked God if this was the school for me, and he said yes. Going there, it was an amazing experience both on and off the court and I got to make some really good friends and meet some very nice people.

ButterB: When looking back at your career the most memorable moment for many fans is Your Go Ahead 3 pointer you hit to beat at the time #3 ranked in the nation Indiana Hoosiers, walk us through that, and is that your most memorable moment as a mastodon?

“That was a moment I had been practicing for my whole life, and I gotta thank my Lord Jesus Christ for allowing me to be ready”

Kason: Well, the game from start to finish was just amazing. The Coliseum was packed, and I just remember we were playing our best basketball. John was doing his thing, Bryson was amazing, and other key guys like X and BC were doing a great job on the boards and stuff. In the second half, I remember I was shooting really bad, and actually missed a potential game-winner in regulation. It was right before we went back out for overtime, Coach Coffman pulled me over to the side because he could tell I was frustrated with the fact that I was like 2-6 at that point in the game. He told me, “Kason, you’re gonna hit a big shot for us right here in overtime.” And I just remember feeling confident and ready. Sure enough, we won the tip, John hit me on the wing, and I hit the shot to put us ahead for good. That was a moment I had been practicing for my whole life, and I gotta thank my Lord Jesus Christ for allowing me to be ready. That is for sure my most memorable moment as a Mastodon

ButterB: What is next for Kason Harrell? What are some things you have been working on to improve your game?

Kason:  Well, I’m currently signed with Goempire agency, so right now I’m waiting for teams to hit me up. Right now, I’m just working on my craft, and staying ready and in shape. I’ve really been working on being able to create my own shot, for in college up until my senior year, I was dependent on other guys to get me shots. Now I’m trying to tighten up my ball handling so that I can create a shot for myself and others. I’ve also done some speed and strength training as well

ButterB: Let’s switch gears here( no Lavar Ball, Molly Qerim). You are part of the small fraternity of successful basketball players who also rap… just to name a few, in the NBA you got (Damien Lillard, Marvin Bagley, Lonzo Ball). Have you heard any of them rap and if so what one of them do you like the most as an MC

Kason: hahaha Honestly, I haven’t listened to much of any rappers in the NBA today. I mostly listened to Shaq, a little bit of Kobe when he rapped, and Ron Artest when he had a song on 2k11. If I had to pick one, however, I’d probably roll with Lonzo for present NBA Rappers

ButterB: When did you begin to rap and what inspired you to pick the name Church Boy Fresh?

Kason: I began rapping in 8th grade. I started freestyling just for Fun. Then I wrote my first rap towards the end of summer and my pastor at my church allowed me to perform it in service the following week and I got a lot of positive feedback from the people in my church. After that, I began to take it more seriously and the name Church boy fresh came from a T-shirt that my sister got me at a church conference. I saw the shirt and thought the name was cool so I decided to use it as my own. I use rap as a way to tell other people about Jesus. People love music and so I decided to use rap music as a way to witness to people about Christ.

ButterB: That’s dope!! Are you working on any new music, and where can people find or listen to your music

Kason: I am just now starting to get back into writing. And I usually post stuff on my Instagram (churchboyfresh32) Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChurchBoy_32) or my Snapchat (mastodon32)

ButterB: Do you sing in the shower?

Kason: haha sometimes

ButterB: It looks like you have a new found Bromance with former Ball state  basketball player “Trey Moses” tell us about how that came to be and yawls constant back and forth on Twitter

Kason: Haha well me and trey became close after sophomore year. We had scrimmaged each other and he told me after the scrimmage that he really respected my game and to keep working hard. Later on, we became friends through social media and we keep in touch a lot. A lot of the back and forth comes from the fact that he is “the GOAT ” at ball state, especially when it comes to the ladies, and I always ask him how he does it and he insists that actually, it’s ME who is “the GOAT” with all the ladies so we always go back and forth but that’s my dawg for sure

ButterB: Now we do this thing at 2KIB where we like to end our interviews with a “Keep It Butter” question. This question we ask our interviewees to be “100” and keep it butter. Your question is “Why do some people stay in relationships that they know are toxic”?

Kason: I think because they feel insecure. Like, girls feel like they can’t live without him and guys think they can’t live without her. So, even when stuff ain’t going right, and they’re getting hurt either emotionally mentally or physically, they feel like they’re stuck. I wish that they knew that God has better for them and that they don’t need a man or woman to fulfill happiness. True joy and happiness is found in Christ. “100”

ButterB: Thanks for doing this interview man, had a fun time, and best of luck to you on your professional basketball career and with rapping. Last but not least and as always keep it Butter G

Kason: Always a pleasure Butter  Thanks for having me