Hempfield grad Kason Harrell again making impact in Ireland pro basketball league

If Kason Harrell is nothing else he’s grateful. Thoughtful. Humble.

He literally stops to take inventory of his blessings, and playing basketball is always high on his list.

“God is good,” said Harrell, a Hempfield and Purdue Fort Wayne grad who is back in Ireland playing professionally.

Harrell, 24, has suited up again for Killester Basketball Club, Team Pyrobel, in Dublin.

Last season’s Super League ended early when the covid-19 pandemic began to stretch across the globe. Pyrobel had one regular-season game remaining before the playoffs. Harrell had to scramble to get a flight home after his five-month stint was cut short.

The 6-foot-2 guard waited more than a year — training rigorously all the while — for another opportunity to keep his career, and dream of playing in the NBA, afloat.

“We started communicating during the summer,” he said. “It has been 20 months between my pro seasons and it’s for real a blessing. All glory to God for helping me to trust him, work hard and stay positive.”

Harrell, who is on a one-year contract, shined in the season opener, scoring 23 points, with seven rebounds, five assists, seven steals and five blocks.

“But we lost,” Harrell said. “I really want us to win the national cup, and I want to build on what I did over here last time.”

Last year, Harrell proved he could score with the best players in Ireland. He scored 30 points, including seven 3-pointers, in an 83-70 win over Keanes Supervalu Killorglin.

He led his team in scoring at 22.3 points a game, the third-best average in the Super League.

The all-time leading scorer at Hempfield (1,905 points) and a 1,349-point scorer at Fort Wayne, Harrell had a brief spell with the NBA G League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants, an affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, but was released and fell short of making the season roster.

He hopes his name will circulate and the right opportunity will come along for him to continue his pro career in the states.

“I’m praying that a successful season this year will gear me towards another G League opportunity, whether it’s in Fort Wayne again or somewhere else,” he said, “and this time I can make the roster.”