Stephen Verwers, a 6-foot-11 center for the University of Hawai'i basketball team, suffered fractures of the tibia and fibula in his left leg in practice yesterday and underwent season-ending surgery last night.

Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash described the injury as "real ugly," and similar to the infamous broken leg suffered by former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann in 1985.

"Everybody was pretty shook up about it," Nash said. "It was hard for the other guys to even look at."

Verwers, a senior from Weatherford, Texas, suffered the injury about an hour into practice on a routine play.

"It was a normal pick-and-roll," Nash said. "Stephen got the ball, pump-faked and went up. When he came down, he just landed awkwardly and went down right away."

Verwers has started all 10 games for the 'Bows (3-7) this season, averaging 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.2 percent (24 of 46) from the field.

Verwers graduated with a degree in travel industry management this month. He was scheduled to enroll in graduate classes next semester to complete his senior season with the team.

"You never like to see something like this happen to anybody on your team," Nash said. "But if anybody was prepared for this, it's Stephen. He got his school work done, and he's got a future ahead of him, whether it's basketball or not."

The 'Bows were already thin as far as depth at the low-post positions. Seniors P.J. Owsley and Alex Veit, and sophomore Paul Campbell will likely see more action in Verwers' place.

"Stephen was our enforcer — our big man in the middle," Nash said. "Other guys will just have to step up now."

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