There probably aren't too many people who would take Logan, Utah, over Honolulu for New Year's Eve.

Stephen Verwers is one of them.

Verwers, who spent Christmas Day in a hospital with a broken left leg, will spend New Year's Day at a friend's house in Honolulu.

The rest of his teammates on the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team are in Logan. The Rainbow Warriors will open the Western Athletic Conference season at Utah State on Thursday.

"It's heartbreaking," Verwers said. "I really would rather be out there helping the team. Not just on the court. The thing I miss the most is spending time with the guys. The road is where you form a close relationship as a team."

Verwers, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound senior, was the team's starting center for the first 10 games of the season. He broke his leg during a practice on Christmas Day, and underwent season-ending surgery that night.

The 'Bows have played two home games since then, and Verwers was on the bench to cheer for his teammates at both games.

"I still want to support the team; help the younger guys, give them advice when I can," he said.

Verwers has a cast on his left leg and is walking with the aid of crutches. A titanium rod was inserted to reset the two broken bones.

Verwers said he still doesn't know how the injury occurred.

"I think it was just a freak accident," he said. "I never had any problems with that leg before. I think I just landed wrong or something."

He also remembers lying on the Sheriff Center court, and seeing his leg bent at a horrific angle. In essence, his lower leg snapped in half.

Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said it was one of the worst injuries he's seen in his basketball career. Several 'Bows had to leave the arena in semi-shock as Verwers waited for an ambulance to arrive.

"I remember looking down, thinking 'is that my leg?,' " Verwers said.

Fortunately, Verwers' parents were in Honolulu for Christmas, so they accompanied him to the hospital.

But for this week, Verwers is alone. He said friends have been bringing meals to his apartment, and he plans to follow the 'Bows' progress via the Internet.

Verwers earned his degree in travel industry management last month. With his collegiate basketball career over, and his degree in hand, Verwers could return to his hometown of Weatherford, Texas.

Instead, he said he will take graduate classes at UH next semester and continue to support his teammates at home practices and games.

It will be another six months before Verwers can start running, but he said he still has hopes of playing professional basketball.

"Once the season's over, I'll talk with Coach Nash to see if there's anything overseas," Verwers said. "If not, then I'll look for a job here, maybe."

'BOWS ARRIVE IN LOGAN

The 'Bows rang in the new year in Logan, Utah, where the overnight low was expected to be minus 4 degrees.

Hawai'i, which is 4-8, will play at Utah State (10-5) on Thursday. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (Hawai'i time).

"We have to battle the long ride, we have to battle the elements, we have to battle the crowd, and then we have to battle Utah State," Bob Nash said. "But that's why we took (road) trips to New Mexico and to San Diego. We've been through those kinds of things."

Utah State features the WAC's leading scorer in 6-2 senior guard Jaycee Carroll. He is averaging 21.3 points per game, and ranks among the top 10 in the country with 48 3-pointers.

The 'Bows departed Honolulu around 12 hours after defeating Centenary, 74-66, on Sunday.

Nash wanted to leave early so the team can get two practices — today and tomorrow — to prepare for Thursday's game.

The two-game road trip will conclude with another WAC game at San Jose State on Saturday.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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