Now that his college career is over, Kason Harrell has every intention of playing professional basketball.
The wheres and whens have yet to be worked out, but the Purdue Fort Wayne senior knows he’ll be playing against some of the country’s best players in the interim.
Harrell, a Hempfield graduate, accepted an invitation to play in the Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship April 5-7 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. More than 120 players from all 32 Division I college conferences will compete for a $150,000 purse with the winning 3-on-3 team pocketing $100,000.
Blessed to say invite accepted ????? @3X3UHoops pic.twitter.com/0gobv08IKI
— Kason Harrell (@ChurchBoy_32) March 26, 2019
Harrell, a 6-foot-2, 192-pound point guard, will join three other Summit League players on a team: Skyler Flatten (South Dakota State), Brandon Gilbeck (Western Illinois) and Zach Jackson (Omaha).
They're big, they're fast, and they're really talented.
— 3X3U National Championship (@3X3UHoops) March 27, 2019
Introducing the @DosEquis 3X3U National Championship Team from @thesummitleague Conference.#3X3U pic.twitter.com/RXko9AkIay
Harrell, who said he has been contact with pro agents from Greece, hopes to showcase his skills in front of pro scouts.
He appears to be on the radar the way he was on the 3x3U watch list.
“I’m looking forward to just going out and competing,” Harrell said. “Our team is really good and I feel like we will be able to play really well together and put a run together.”
Pool play begins at 3 p.m. April 5.
Early-round games will be live-streamed on Twitter. The semifinals and championship will be shown at 3 p.m. on April 7 on ESPN2.
Harrell was an All-Summit League honorable mention selection this season. He averaged a career-best 15.1 points and shot 49.5 percent from the field. He also grabbed 3.4 rebounds and dished 1.6 assists.
Hempfield’s all-time leading scorer, he finished eighth in Purdue Fort Wayne history with 1,315 points. Harrell hopes to extend his career beyond college.
“I’m hoping to get a tryout, but wherever God wants me to play, I’ll play,” he said.
As far as 3x3U rules go, teams will play halfcourt with one point awarded for each basket inside the 3-point arc, and two for shots made behind the line. The first team to 21 or the best score after 10 minutes wins each game.
We're back for Year Two, and we're doing it BIGGER and BETTER!
— 3X3U National Championship (@3X3UHoops) February 18, 2019
? Mall of America
(Yes... That MALL OF AMERICA!)
? April 5-7, 2019
? Winner takes home $100,000
Your bag is packed!?? #3X3U pic.twitter.com/z0LHSoUsNi
