By Steve Carpenter
Hutchinson CC Sports Information Director
For the 16th time in Hutchinson Community College men's basketball history, a season will open with a new head coach on the Blue Dragon sideline.
The Kyle Fisher era opens Tuesday night at the Sports Arena as the No. 15-ranked Blue Dragons take on Hesston College in the 2024-25 season opener at 7:30 p.m.
The make-up of Fisher's first Hutchinson team has one returning player, six transfers – three who played for Fisher at Butler – and six incoming freshmen.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 15 Hutchinson (0-0) vs. Hesston College (2-0)
2024 Season Opener
When: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Where: Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson, KS
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. – Sean Boston (PBP), Dan Naccarato (analyst)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 7:15 p.m.
X: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)
So what has Fisher learned about his first Blue Dragon team through fall camp, jamborees and scrimmages?
"I think we have good depth and good balance, said Fisher, who posted a 113-42 overall record and 78-34 KJCCC mark at Butler. "You have to have good guard play in this conference and I think we have the potential to have really strong guard play.
"Our depth … we have a lot of bodies we can throw out there. And then there is our balance where I don't think there's any one individual or one action that can be taken away and we would struggle. We have the ability to play small or play big."
The 2023-24 Blue Dragons were 29-7 last season, including a 20-4 mark, which was good enough for a third-place finish in the KJCCC. Hutchinson was the 2024 Region 6 Tournament runner-up and qualified for the 2024 NJCAA Tournament were it advanced to the quarterfinal round.
Guard Kobe Smith is the lone returning player from that team. The sophomore from Wichita played in 36 games, starting in six, and averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He will be a part of the deep group of guards this season.
The three players who came with Fisher from Butler are guards Jaquez Thornton, Aidan Wing and Kahlil Arnold.
Thornton averaged 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line. Arnold averaged 6.2 points and Wing averaged 2.9 points per game.
Guard Isaiah Jackson is a transfer from State Fair Community College. Jackson averaged 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds for State Fair in 30 games last season. Sophomore guard Mikhail Abdul-Hamid originally started at the University of Idaho, but played last season at Salt Lake Community College. Abdul-Hamid played 26 games last season and averaged 6.9 points while shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range. Dimitrius "D.J." Dudley played at Rider University last season where he played in 28 games and averaged 5.0 points per game.
As far as the personnel breakdown for the 2024-25 Blue Dragons:
Thornton and freshman Juvon Gamory will see a bulk of the playing time at point guard. Smith and Dudley can also run the point.
"Both are true point guards, " Fisher said. "Jaquez knows the league, so he's got the experience. Juvon has been battling injuries all fall. D.J. and Kobe aren't natural point guards, but they are good enough players who have high basketball IQs so they can also play at the point."
Fisher has several options at the wing positions. In addition to Dudley and Smith, Fisher can use Abdul-Hamid and Arnold as well as freshman Bo Aldridge, who was a highly-touted recruit out of Topeka Highland Park High School.
"Abdul and Bo are very good shooters. We are really excited about freshman Bo Aldridge," Fisher said. "All of our guards are unique and different, which allowed us to play a lot of different ways.
At forward and in the post, Wing has had a strong fall camp. Freshman Bobby Cannon has a high ceiling. Emmanuel Okitondo is another player the Dragon staff is high one. Inside Jackson and freshmen Amari Davis and Shomari Philip will provide a physical presence are will provide strength on the boards.
The message Fisher has brought from Day 1 of fall camp to this group is simple: "I tell the guys 'if you don't play hard, you will not play. If you can't defend, you won't play. If you can't rebound, you won't play.'
"That's the expectation and that's the foundation of our program."
Helping Fisher solidify that expectation are assistants Marques Townsend, Vince Fritz and Trey Myrie.
"I feel like I have the best staff in junior college basketball," Fisher said. "They are guys with great pedigrees, great experience and great basketball minds."
The 2024-25 Blue Dragons were picked second in the KJCCC preseason coaches poll and start the season ranked No. 15 in the preseason NJCAA Rankings.
After Tuesday's home opener, the Dragons play host to Southwestern Christian and Labette in the BSN Sports Tipoff Classic. The Dragons will open conference play on November 20 at Barton.