Despite broken wrists, Carson Vis back in gym cheering on South Christian teammates

South Christian sophomore Carson Vis sat a a table at midcourt during practice on Friday, March, 17, 2023. Both of his arms are in casts after breaking his wrists on Wednesday. Teammate Jaxson Rynbrandt is at right running the shot clock. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Carson Vis sat at a folding table at mid court during a basketball practice on Friday with both of his arms in casts and heavily bandaged. The South Christian sophomore said he is constantly in pain, but he is exactly where he wants to be. In a basketball gym with his teammates.

“It feels good,” he said. “It’s not fun sitting at home. I wanted to get out and see my friends again. It makes me happy. It gets my mind off of all this. They cheer me up.”

Vis broke both wrists during a Division 2 regional championship game on Wednesday. His Sailors beat Hamilton 82-47, but he was in the hospital by the time the game ended.

Vis stole a ball and went up for a dunk. But he came down hard and braced himself with his arms.

“I remember looking down at the ground and then getting up and seeing my arm in three different spots,” he said. “That’s about all I can remember.”

South Christian players joke around with Carson Vis after he was named MVP of a 2k23 Showcase game at Aquinas College when the Sailors beat Detroit Edison on Jan. 28, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)

Vis, a 6-foot-4 forward, is one of the top sophomore basketball players in the state. He has an offer from Ferris State University and has had unofficial visits to the University of Michigan and Toledo. He leads South Christian in scoring at 20.7 points per game. He’s also averaging 5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

“I was sad because I had basketball taken away from me,” Vis said. “I didn’t know my right arm was broken until we got to the doctor. I thought I was going to have (the use of) one arm, but now I have none.”

South Christian junior Jake Vermaas said it was good to see his buddy back in the gym just two days after the accident.

“It shows how much the guy cares,” Vermaas said. “He shows up just to support us, even if he’s just sitting at the table. It means a lot.”

South Christian sophomore Carson Vis smiles during practice on Friday, March, 17, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Sailors first-year coach Taylor Johnson was happy to have Vis back.

“He’s about this team and about this journey,” Johnson said. “We’ve all been through adversity in our lives and he’s taken it head on. It’s unfortunate, but he knows that he can still give to this team.”

Vis has both of his arms in casts past his elbows. So he can’t reach to even scratch his nose or even feed himself.

“I can’t do anything,” he said. “I voice text (on my phone) or I have my mom respond for me. I literally can’t do anything. My parents have to help me put my clothes on. They even have to brush my teeth for me. The other day, Jake DeHaan and Jake Vermaas had to feed me. It’s kind of weird. It’s kinda fun.”

The team got together to watch some college basketball on Thursday.

“We were at my house for a team hangout and watching some March Madness,” Vermaas said. “I got him a piece of pizza and I cut it up. It was weird, but he can’t feed himself.”

Carson Vis competes with the Grand Rapids Storm during the 2022 season. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Vis said it is frustrating knowing he also will miss his travel ball season with the Grand Rapids Storm.

“I was worried about the summer and AAU,” he said. “I love playing basketball, so it sucks to have it taken away. I work so hard. And now I can’t do anything for the next 4-to-6 weeks. It sucks. We find out next week if I need surgery or not.”

Vis is even worried about his school work. 

“I haven’t gone to school yet,” he said. “I’m hoping to get back on Monday. There’s a few tests that I have to catch up on. I can do them online.”

South Christian plays Unity Christian on Tuesday in a Division 2 state quarterfinal, which will be held at Calvin University.

“Mentally, the toughest part, that we have a big game on Tuesday,” he said. “It will probably be sold out. It sucks that I can’t play in that and be with my friends. But I know they are gonna pull it out.”