Back Where He Belongs, Chris Perry Endures Life-Changing Experience 8,500 Miles From Home
Detained for four years in a prison in Slovakia, the 6'8 power forward and center strives to find peace of mind back on the basketball court.
Tampa, Florida — Everyone has a story to tell, but it’s often the details and finer points of a person’s tale and personal life experiences that can be left open to interpretation or even get lost in translation at times.
It’s one of the first thoughts that comes to mind while exploring Chris Perry’s long road back home to Florida to play for the Tampa Bay Titans of The Basketball League this season after beginning his pro career in 2017 at 23-years-old by signing a one-year deal in Slovakia with BC Prievidza of the Slovak Extraliga, a year after the club won the 2016 Slovak Championship. Last year at this time life was extremely difficult for the 6’8 power forward and center out of Bartow Senior High School who spent two seasons at the University of South Florida before concluding his college basketball career at Division 2 Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee by leading the Railsplitters to the Elite Eight during March Madness.
Chris didn’t know when he would be back on a basketball court, see his family, visit friends, or even set foot back in the United States again.
It was all part of a four year waiting game that included headlines and severe allegations stemming from a relationship he entered with a young woman he befriended shortly after arriving in Prievidza, resulting in a full court press from regional officials in Slovakia against Chris after he was charged and taken into custody on September 21, 2017. While charges against Chris were asked to be dropped and team representatives from BC Prievidza commented that the ordeal was a fabrication, the District Prosecutor's Office felt otherwise and continued with their indictment with Chris facing a possible 15 year prison sentence.
The mental strain and anguish of the unknown was crippling.
In some ways they still are.
Fearing he would receive a substantial sentence, the District Court in Prievidza found Chris guilty and sentenced him to 7 years unconditionally, however after an appeal, the Regional Court of Appeal in Trenčín was able to reduce the sentence to 4 years.
Within that time in his cell, Chris lost more than just seconds, minutes, days, months and years.
He lost a part of himself and his loved ones – the same loved ones he now plays for each and every time he steps on the court for the Titans this season. It’s now been 8 months since Chris was released from being detained at prison in Dubnica nad Váhom, a quaint village in Northwest Slovakia and while these days Chris prefers to let his game speak for him this season by averaging 21.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, he’s the first to share what being back on a basketball truly means to him. After everything he’s been through over the past four years off of the court and in the court, returning from such life-changing events roughly 5, 276 away from home puts Chris into his own class in this comeback story.
You have had a whirlwind start to your professional basketball career beginning in Slovakia and you've been able to have a solid season thus far in TBL. What does it mean to you to be able to focus on basketball once again with the Titans back in your home state?
I lost a lot while I was gone. The death of my mother Delphinn Genience Stephens, my grandmother May Rose Stephens , and my grandfather Roland C. Stephens, really is what killed me mentally but that’s my same motivation to kill it on the court every game now playing in TBL. That 4 years I used my time to meditate and plan my takeover.
While doing research for our interview I came across what transpired in Slovakia through an online newspaper and translation, but only a brief post from your side about what transpired…
I basically got mixed in the wrong crowd. That’s all I have to say about that now. It’s helped me develop into the player I am now though. Being put away like that makes you grow solid, I had to grow up, learn the language around me, and take care of business at home as usual. I had to grow up while being detained. Those articles on the internet portray some false information.
I was released on September 22nd of last year and have been out 8 months now. Some people are just so greedy for money that they will do anything to get it and that is what they wanted to do with me. Just going through that experience as a whole – for example, not being able to visit your people, or not being able to go to my family funerals. It ripped my heart out. Now it’s strictly business and nothing but a major injury can stop me from getting to where I need to go.
Were you ever worried that you might not get another chance to play or that time would diminish your love for the game?
The love for the game? No, but when they sentenced me to 7 years the first go around I thought it was all over. I thought I’d never see my loved ones again. It was horrific. The day the guard told me to call home I immediately knew something was wrong. That was when my mom passed away.
What keeps you going now?
I do this for my momma, my granny and my pop. I lost them while I was gone in Slovakia, and couldn’t see their funerals or anything and that’s why I’m so relentless and ruthless when it comes to the court. I want everything. I deserve everything.
When did the opportunity arise to play in the TBL? And what does it mean to you to have this chance to get back on the floor to showcase your abilities?
I’ve known the owner of the team (Bassel Harfouch) here in Tampa ever since 2013 so it was an easy transition just a matter of if he would take me to play on the team and he accepted me with wide open arms.
After a slow start you guys have gone 5-1 over your last six games and you've put up some big numbers and are averaging a double-double currently (21.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game) for Tampa Bay. How do you feel you've grown this season getting back on the court?
You know, every game individually I try to make it a challenge to myself to just be better and better. So even though I put up 37 and 21 recently against Raleigh, now I want 50 points and 30 rebounds for example. Down low is my bread and butter. Never is enough for me. I want to win it all. And with the pieces we have on this team, there’s no reason we shouldn’t do well this season to finish it off.
Did that whole experience overseas deter you from wanting to play abroad again? Or has it helped prepare you for when the next offer and opportunity from an international team arrives?
Not gonna lie, it did kill me mentally for a period but I knew that my mom and the rest of my family would want me to continue to play so that’s my motivation to keep going. While I was in confinement for 9 months straight it was really tough for me but now that I’m out, I feel like there’s nothing that can deter me from finding success.
What advice would you give to these young guys either coming out of college or looking to sign with an agent and begin their professional careers?
With me signing my first deal, my mother and grandmother and I were on the phone with my agent at the time. He was explaining the options, the money, and the countries to consider. It was surreal. Finally you get to help provide for your family as a professional. Unfortunately my agent did absolutely nothing to get me out of Slovakia or make my time served easier. So, the advice from me is just to stay true to yourself. Work extremely hard for what you want and not to get caught up in the hype of social media.
*Team photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Titans
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Wendell Maxey has covered and written about professional basketball and sports for 19 years including eight years reporting on the NBA in New York and Portland where his work appeared on ESPN.com, NBA.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, YAHOO Sports!, SLAM Magazine, and The Oregonian among other publications and outlets. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his archive on Linktree.