By Steve CarpenterHutchinson Community College Sports Information Director
Like the old Bob Segar song, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team is looking to "Turn the Page" from last season.
If the preseason results are any indication, the 2026-27 Blue Dragons are well into the process.
Head coach Kyle Fisher begins his third season at Hutchinson on Monday night as the Blue Dragons open with Metropolitan Community College (Penn Valley) at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena.
There is no easy way to sugar coat last season. Hutchinson had a losing record of 14-17 and finished 11th in the Jayhawk Conference with a 9-15 record.
The Blue Dragons held their own defensively, rankings sixth in the KJCCC in scoring defense at 72.3 points per game. But offense was a struggle, especially after Kyrell Shaw was lost for the season after Game 19. Hutchinson averaged only 73.4 points per game in 2025-26.
But that was then …
For 2026-27, Fisher has put together a group with three returning players, seven transfers and three true freshmen who have pumped great energy back into one of the elite programs in all of junior college basketball.
"I really like our team and the effort we have put forth so far in the preseason," said Fisher who is 33-29 at Hutchinson and 146-71 in seven seasons overall as a head coach. "We have good talent, but more importantly, we have a competitive group who really likes each other.
"We are excited to get out there and get things going. After 25-26 season, we all feel like we have a lot to prove."
Three players returning from last season are guard Kordell Williams and forwards Chudier Dorar and Ethan Dillinger.
Dorar is a 7-foot forward from Des Moines, Iowa. He started in 6 of 31 games and averaged 7.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Dorar shot 66.2 percent from the field. Dorar also blocked 77 shots last season, which was third most in Blue Dragon single-season history.
"Chudier Dorar, who is coming off an injury this summer, is getting into shape," Fisher said. "He immediately helps us defensively with this length and ability to alter shots at the rim."
Williams is a 6-2 sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri. He started in 17 of 29 games last season and averaged 5.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 42.0 percent overall and 34.5 percent from 3-point range.
"Kordell has taken a big jump," Fisher said. "He is looking to play point guard full time this year. He is bigger and more comfortable."
Dillinger is a 6-8 forward from Erie who played in seven games and 47 total minutes last season.
"For the first time in my Hutch tenure, we have more than one returner," Fisher said. "Returners are very beneficial. The most improvement you see in college players is the jump they make from their freshman to sophomore year."
The Blue Dragons added seven transfers into the program this season.
They are Zaire Lott (6-5, guard, Waterbury, Connecticut, Garden City CC); Micah Young (6-2, guard, Westerville, Ohio, Concord University), Mykel Jenkins (6-5, guard, Newport News, Virginia, Norfolk State University), Amare Neal (5-1, guard, Swifton, Arkansas, Georgia Southern University); Isaiah Washington (6-5, guard, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Northern Illinois University), Evan Jackson (6-7, guard/forward, Chicago, Pittsburg State University) and Fallou Dioum (6-11, forward, Atlanta, Georgia, Southeastern CC)
Fisher welcomed three true freshmen into the program in guard Jalihn Timmons (6-2, Wichita), guard, Kaiyon Gardner (6-2, Los Angeles, California) and Emmanuel Alofe (6-7 guard/forward from Atlanta).
"We have several incoming players who will contribute," Fisher said. "Two guards Mykell Jenkins and Isaiah Washington will make major contributions. Both big guards who are skilled scorers. They are both D1 transfers with experience at the four-year level.
"Inside, we have added Evan Jackson and Emmanuel Alofe. Both are forwards who are also skilled. Both are capable of playing inside and out, but equally important, is they will definitely improve our rebounding.
"Zaire Lott can help us in a lot of ways. He does many things that may not always show up in the box score. He can really shoot, and he can rebound. But he adds KJCCC experience and toughness that we need in the long conference season."
What Fisher has seen since the start of practice lends to a belief that the Blue Dragons will be a much-improved team.
"One of our strengths is our ability to play unselfish basketball. Each guy knows the game and knows how to play," Fisher said" We are much improved in this area.
This roster has a lot of length and athleticism, and we are hoping this translates into an elite defensive team.
"Another strength would be our depth. We have several guys who will be able to contribute at different times throughout the year. The depth also allows us to play in different ways. We can throw out a big powerful line up, or we can throw out a smaller, skilled line up and play fast.
The Blue Dragons were picked fifth in the Jayhawk Conference preseason poll this season, but was one of six teams to receive a first-place vote.
After two Classics and six overall non-conference games, the Blue Dragons start the gauntlet known as the Jayhawk Conference season on November 18 at preseason KJCCC favorite Coffeyville. The first six conference games for the Dragons are at Coffeyville, at Garden City, at Cowley, vs Barton, at Dodge City and vs. Butler.
"The KJCCC is elite and will be as balanced and as strong as ever, Fisher said. "During the conference grind, it is important to have a competitive and connected team. The depth of this league and level of play is outstanding. Blue Dragon fans should be excited for high-level basketball."
After Monday's season opener, the Blue Dragons will play Northeastern Junior College and NOC-Enid in the BSN Sports Tipoff Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena.