Begin by preparing the graham cracker crust. Process the graham crackers with sugar and melted butter until the mixture resembles damp sand.

Spray the sides of the cheesecake pan and evenly pack the crust mixture into the bottom, but do not pack it too tightly.

Bake the crust in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 minutes, or until it becomes fragrant and slightly browned.

Allow the crust to cool slightly, then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

For the filling, ensure that the cream cheese is softened at room temperature. Beat the cream cheese until it is smooth, being careful not to overbeat.

Add sugar to the cream cheese and mix until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

Incorporate sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and kosher salt into the mixture, mixing on low speed.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined after each addition to avoid incorporating too much air.

Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust and smooth the top with a spatula.

Prepare a water bath by wrapping the cheesecake pan in foil and placing it in a larger roasting pan.

Pour hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan.

Bake the cheesecake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 50 minutes, until the center is still slightly jiggly.

While the cheesecake is baking, prepare the strawberry topping. Wash and halve the strawberries.

In a pot, combine the strawberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, water, and vanilla extract. Stir to dissolve the cornstarch.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then mash the strawberries until smooth and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Once the cheesecake is done baking, let it cool in the water bath for about 10 minutes.

Run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake to prevent cracking, then let it cool completely on the counter.

Transfer the cheesecake to the fridge to chill, preferably overnight.

When ready to serve, top the cheesecake with the strawberry sauce and fresh strawberry chunks.