Interview with Chris Vann

Chris Vann (born to a Korean Mother and African-American Father) is part of a very interesting 2009 KBL draft class. He was one of 5 selected players (out of 7 prospects). The KBL has started, with this year’s draft, a sort of “supplemental” draft that is specifically for people of mixed Korean descent (e.g. half Koreans). Now there has been people of mixed Korean descent in previous KBL seasons but this is the first time that the league has made a concerted effort to bring in more mixed Koreans.

Although there was some strange quirks to the draft that seem illogical (such as a team who selects a player in the Ethnic draft would lose their first round pick of the standard draft) as well as some backlash from some Korean university coaches, the draft can be seen as a positive step not only for the KBL but also for basketball players of mixed Korean descent. It gives that opportunity to players who would love to live and work in one of their parent’s homeland.

Chris was a collegiate star at Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland and graduated in 2008. The Mount St. Mary’s basketball team won their conference and got into the “Big Dance”, the NCAA tournament. Although they came up short with a loss to eventual Final Four participant, North Carolina, their season was seen as a huge success.

He is already in Korea preparing for the 2009 KBL season and HalfKorean.com was able to catch up with him and find out about his background and life.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 17, 1986.

Where were you raised and where do you currently reside?
I have been living in Woodbridge, Virginia (located just 15 miles south of Washington D.C.) for the past 13 years. However, as of May 4, 2009 I reside in Pusan, Korea (haha).

How did your parents meet?
My parents met in Korea way back when my father was stationed in Seoul, Korea during his tenure in the U.S. Army.

Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
I have two elder siblings, my brother Jon (32) and my sister Tanyoka (30), so I am the youngest or the baby in which most people refer to me as. haha

Can you speak Korean?
I can speak a little Korean. I would classify myself as being conversant rather than fluent.

What is your favorite food? What is your favorite Korean food?
My favorite food would have to be anything that is Italian; I am a big pasta lover. On the other hand, my favorite Korean food would have to be Soon dooboo jigae. I am a huge fan of tofu and this soup has to be the definition of it… LOL

Did you grow up around other half/mixed Koreans (or people of mixed heritage)?
I would have to say that I grew up with a lot of different mixed heritages. Growing up, my parents tried to surround me with different cultures so that I would learn a lot about people’s different ways of life.

Did you ever experience any racism/prejudice growing up as a person of mixed heritage and/or were there any identity issues while growing up that you had to deal with?
I don’t have much issues of racism, but the little that I did encounter was when I lived in Korea when I was younger. Some of the native kids would call my siblings and I names and it made us feel not welcome at times but that was then and now things have seemed to change in Korea.

Now tattoos are pretty popular these days and I have seen that you have some. I could sort of make out something in Hangul (Korean) one on your left arm in a picture, but couldn’t see it completely. Out of curiosity, if it is in Hangul what is it?
I do. It says “Chris” in Korean or as many Koreans like to pronounce it “Ch-Ri-sssss”. haha

What do you think most people who meet/see you think you are (ethnicity)?
When most people see me from a distance they usually think that I am either Puerto Rican, Mexican or any other Latin American decent, but when they get a little closer they notice the “chinky” or slanted eyes and automatically see the Asian side… haha

College Basketball & the Korean Basketball League (KBL)

How long have you been playing basketball and did you play any other sports growing up?
I’ve been playing basketball since 5 or 6 years old. Living in Korea, I would follow my brother and his friends to the court almost everyday and would not leave until I was forced to by my parents or threatened with a beating. haha (It was that serious). Growing up I also played football and baseball, but decided to give these sports up when I had many scholarship offers on the line in high school.

Since finishing your collegiate basketball career at Mount St. Mary’s in 2008, what have you been up to?
After I graduated from Mount St. Mary’s I coached my varsity high school team and did some substitute teaching on the side. I had some premature offers to play over in Europe, so I figured that I couldn’t get a full-time job if I still wanted to pursue that option.

What did you major in at Mount St. Mary’s?
In college I majored in International Business.

How hard was it for you to balance education and athletics?
Being a student-athlete in college had to be one of the hardest tasks that I’ve have dealt with. The fact that you still have to be a student and complete assignments on days where your practicing for 4 or 5 hours was insane. There were plenty of nights where I was exhausted from basketball and still had to complete 15 page papers, but the self discipline factor made it a must. Knowing that if you didn’t make the grades left you ineligible was another key element in buckling down to complete your assignments.

You first had to play Coppin State before UNC as the play-in game to the 2008 NCAA tournament; what was the feeling like to win and get to play in the NCAA tourney (especially since it was your senior year)?
Getting the win against Coppin State and winning the NEC Championship had to be one of the most emotional weeks for me thus far. It is a feeling that is indescribable, but was a feeling filled with joy. Being able to say that I am one of few people who played basketball at The Mount to have a NCAA tournament win is incredible.

How difficult was it to play that game after a friend of yours and Mount St. Mary’s alumni/fan, Dustin Bauer, had just passed away?
It was a difficult time for myself and the Mount St. Mary’s community. On the basketball side of things, for myself and my teammates to have known that a friend has passed away and still try and execute our game plan on the court took a lot of heart. He was one of our biggest fans. His passing also gave us a bigger perspective on life and how precious it really is. (R.I.P. Dustin Bauer)

I know that your team was the #16 seed and had to play the eventual East regional champ/Final Four participant, North Carolina, right off the bat; were they the toughest team you had played all year long?
It was hands down the toughest team we played all year. During that season we also played big powers in Oregon and Oklahoma, both of which made the NCAA tournament that year.

Now you recently participated and was drafted in the KBL’s first ethnic draft; had you targeted the KBL as a destination to play basketball professionally?
It was definitely a place where I wanted to get the opportunity to play. Being that my mother was born in Korea had a lot to do with it.

Now you mentioned earlier that you had some offers to play in Europe; were you planning on trying to play professionally elsewhere (Europe, etc.)?
I had a couple of deals on the table to play in Denmark and Slovenia, but their financial issues didn’t seem to encourage me to come there enough.

What did your parents & family think when you first decided to pursue playing basketball professionally in Korea?
My parents were very supportive and thrilled that I wanted to pursue a career playing professionally in Korea, especially my Mother and her family who all live in Korea.

Now, the KBL has had many half/mixed Korean players in the league (such as Kim Min-Soo aka Julian Fernandez Kim, Lee Dong-Jun aka Daniel Sandrin and Tony Rutland, etc.). This first “ethnic” KBL draft (i.e. half/mixed Korean players) was definitely a big deal; how did you feel to be a part of it?
It was an honor to be a part of something that you are the first to participate in. I feel that we (the ones drafted) are the stepping stone to more that is to come.

I believe there were 7 who applied for the draft but only 5 drafted, so the majority did get drafted; what was the competitive level during the tryouts, etc. between you and the other half Korean draft prospects?
It was very competitive. Everyone wanted to show the coaches in attendance what they had to offer for a team. It was basically our interview for the league and the teams in the KBL.

Were your tryouts with the other draft prospects from Korea (the Korean college players, etc.) or separate?
Our tryouts were held the day before the Korean college player’s draft.

What is the general level of feeling about the upcoming season by you and the other draftees? Do you think there will be acceptance from the league and fellow players of you and your fellow half Korean draftees?
I’m very excited about the upcoming season. However, whether or not the fellow players of the league will be accepting does not cross my mind. All I need to know is that my team (KTF Magicwings) is accepting and looks forward to playing with me this upcoming season.

The “ethnic” KBL draft was surrounded by some controversy involving the Korean college coaches, etc. and their unhappiness with foreign players (even though they are of Korean descent) coming in; what was your take on it?
It really doesn’t bother me. All I can say is that the players in the half/ethnic draft were better than all the players in the Korean college players draft. haha

On one hand, I think it is great that the KBL is bringing in more Korean players (be it foreign born and/or half/mixed descent); but, I feel that having a separate draft sort of makes it seem as though mixed Korean players are still not fully accepted in the same vein as other Korean players are. What is your feeling on this and, in the future, do you think the KBL should keep a separate draft for mixed Korean players like what they had this year or make it just one draft?
I think that this whole separate draft issue was an experiment. However, in the years to come, I feel that there will be some changes to the future of this event.

What are your future plans?
I would like to pursue a coaching job at the college level and try and get my masters in education. I am a person who loves working with kids and I feel that coaching and teaching are my strengths.

Random & Personal

Do you have any hobbies or interests that you do to relax?
I love spending time with friends and family when I have the time. I also use this time to relax since I rarely have time to spend with them.

Anybody in particular that you respect/look up to?
I respect my parents for giving me the love and support they all throughout my life. They gave me a life that I wouldn’t regret for anything and I really respect and honor them for that.

In general, do you think that the Korean & Korean-American communities are accepting of Koreans of mixed heritage (half/mixed Koreans)?
I feel that they are more accepting today, but if you would have asked this question about 10-15 years ago the answer might have slightly been altered… haha

When was the last time you have been to Korea (before the KBL draft)?
The last time I visited Korea before the KBL tryouts was back in 1992… Seems like that was ages ago… haha

Do you drink and/or like soju?
I absolutely love soju. Ironically, the night I landed in Korea, I had a bottle with some family at dinner.

Have you had any personal preferences while dating?
I have no real personal preference while dating, but I do like my women a little fit… haha Other than that I don’t discriminate… haha

What is your take on Korea’s reaction to Hines Ward and the resulting “Hines Ward Phenomenon” after he was MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006?
I feel that he loves them and they love him… Everyone love success and wants to be surrounded by it.

Do you get on the Internet often?
I do surf the internet often. And now that I’m in Korea, I expect to surf a little more…

So what are some of your favorite websites that you go to?
Facebook, Eurobasket.com, and a lot of shopping Websites.

How did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I had never heard of it until you contacted me… But once I saw it I that thought it was a neat website.

Any words that you would like to pass on to the community?
Watch out Korea, here I come… haha

I want to personally thank Chris for his time for this interview and wish him nothing but success not only in the KBL but with his future endeavors.

Check out the KBL and KTF Magic Wings websites to follow Chris and his fellow KBL “rookies” for the upcoming season.

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 5/27/2009

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