Former Cal Poly basketball star ‘a bit on edge’ in Brussels following terror attacks

The day was just beginning for former Cal Poly basketball star Chris Eversley when terrorists struck about 12 miles from his Brussels home on Tuesday, and though he wasn’t harmed, he is feeling “a bit on edge” as heavily armed police continue to patrol the streets and conduct raids in the wake of the bloody attacks.

Eversley, 24, was a key player on the team that won the Big West Conference championship and took Cal Poly to its first NCAA tournament men’s basketball appearance in 2014.

He now plays professional basketball in Belgium near Brussels for the Kangoeroes Basket Willebroek team and lives within a 10- to 15-minute commute from Brussels Airport, where Islamic State suicide bombers carried out the first phase of their two-pronged attack. They also struck a subway station an hour later.

Speaking to The Tribune this week by email, Eversley said he was just waking up about 8 a.m. when the two bombs at the airport went off. The combined attacks killed 31 people and injured more than 300.

Eversley said he opened his window to see what he could, and messages started to flood his phone. His teammates alerted each other of their whereabouts and safety.

“After the third explosion at the train station, the number of sirens heard from the rushing ambulances and police cars increased,” Eversley said.

The 6-foot-7-inch forward said the team held basketball practice twice on Tuesday, but the attacks were on the minds of players and coaches.

“As soon as we walked in the gym, our coach had his laptop watching news coverage,” Eversley said. “That’s when you realize that this life is bigger than your personal world, when your local teammates are trying to get in contact with their family members even though the government has shut down telecommunications in the city.”

Eversley said that “luckily, everybody turned out to be unharmed.”

The team has continued to play its regularly scheduled games, with 10 games slated over the next five weeks.

But Eversley admits to feeling on guard wherever he goes, “especially with the recent news of ISIS sending more than 400 soldiers back into the European Union to carry out more attacks around the region.”

“I understand that you can’t run from everything and let these people make you live your life sheltered, but having to live your life on vigilant watch is not how it should be,” Eversley said.

Since the Nov, 13, 2015, attacks in Paris, guards with assault rifles have patrolled the streets in cities where his games are held, including Brussels and Antwerp.

“With the terror level being at a 4 (highest), I don't see security changing anytime soon,” Eversley said.

Eversley says that since the immediate aftermath of the bombings, the mood of the city has relaxed slightly although people remain tense.

“The scene has calmed down slightly in terms of the chaos, but the community has a bit of an edge to it,” Eversley said. “With Belgium being so small, the entire country felt the effect of the attacks.”

Eversley said a candle-light vigil in the city center was well attended earlier this week to remember those who had been killed or injured in the bombings.

Despite the concern, Eversley said he’ll remain on the team and continue to live out his dream of playing pro basketball.

“This is a job that I chose to take because it is something I love to do,” Eversley said. “No matter what difficulties stand in the way, I can honestly say I still love waking up and going to work everyday. If you have true passion for something, nothing or no one should inhibit you from chasing your dreams.”

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 6:21 PM with the headline "Former Cal Poly basketball star ‘a bit on edge’ in Brussels following terror attacks."