Trojan Legend Chastity Reed Hunkers Down in Greece Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

ATHENS, Greece – The season ended abruptly and she is in a foreign country, but Little Rock legend Chastity Reed remains calm. Safe in the clean confines of her apartment, Reed is approaching this pandemic one day at a time, like many others around the globe, even if she isn't following the paths of other Americans home.
 
Several other Americans playing internationally made every effort to return to the United States before the suspension of European flights to America went into place. While the ban did not apply to US citizens, permanent residents and their families, Reed simply stocked up on supplies and sought the comfort of her home away from home.
 
"I haven't tried [returning to the United States]," Reed told LRTrojans.com from her apartment in Greece. "I feel okay here. All the stores are stocked and the new cases aren't rising as much."
 
Greece, considered the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, is similar in size to Florida and in population to Georgia. Home to the original Olympic Games, Greece has only 418 cases of the coronavirus (compared to Georgia's 197 confirmed cases) but is less than 250 miles direct across the Adriatic Sea to Italy, which has suffered over 3,400 deaths due to the virus.
 
More than just dealing with effects of the current pandemic, Reed had her 2019-20 season cut short – like so many other athletes across the globe.
 
Currently competing for Panathinaikos in the Greek A1 league, her team was 16-4 and in second place before the season prematurely ended. Reed had been a key component of that season, averaging a team-leading 20.3 points per game while also grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game. She was shooting 53.1% (78-for-147) from the field.
 
"It was disappointing but other leagues were already shutting their season down," Reed said. "It just progressed from no games to no practice, to foreigners being fined if they aren't following the guidelines being set."
 
In order to combat the spread of the virus, the Greek government has mandated that people only leave their homes for the essentials. No large gatherings are allowed and the government has threatened jail time for business owners responsible for passing the virus and/or ignoring the government's protocols.
 
While most gyms and workout facilities are closed, Reed is focusing on staying in shape at home. She wants to be prepared to return to action on the court once it is allowed.
 
"I run a couple of miles then work on my abs, back and arms," she explained of her daily workout routine. "Then stretching at the end. I'm going to find a gym I can go to alone when everything calms down a bit."
 
Until then, she continues to approach each day one at a time.
 
"Honestly, I think I feel more comfortable here than back home. The stores are stocked, which is important. I go for runs and keep my distance from people. This feels like a dream … I am just taking it day by day."
 
More importantly, Reed's sense of calm is a trait shared by her family.
 
"No one is panicking," Reed says of her clan back home in America. "I might talk to them a little more than normally. We just checked in to make sure everyone is okay or to update on any changes."
 
She has embraced that sense of calm from the very beginning. Not panicking or making quick, rash decisions, Reed has remained calm in her Athens apartment.
 
"My reaction was to create a safe environment in my home," Reed explained. "I disinfected everything. I feel as safe as can be expected."
 
One of women's basketball's all-time greats, Chastity Reed helped build the Little Rock basketball program into the dynasty that it is today. Reed was a three-time All-Sun Belt Conference first team selection for the Trojans, being named the Sun Belt's Player of the Year and earning AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition in 2010.
 
Reed's name is listed throughout the Trojan record book as she is the program's all-time leading scorer, becoming the only player in program history to surpass the 2,000-point mark. Reed is also the program's all-time rebounding leader with 896 and ranks second all-time in career steals, fifth all-time in career assists and fifth all-time in career blocks.
 
She was a Regional Finalist for the State Farm Coaches All-American award in 2009 and 2010 and helped guide the Trojans to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Following her playing days for Joe Foley, Reed played in the WNBA for the Tulsa Shock and Phoenix Mercury before continuing her playing career overseas in Israel, Romania, Lithuania, Switzerland before her tenure in Greece. Reed was recently named to the Little Rock 20^th Anniversary Team.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Basketball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWBB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
#LittleRocksTeam