Year three under Head Coach, Brad Witherspoon sees another revamped roster for the Dodge City men's basketball program as the Conquistadors look to turn their fortune around after a tough 2023-24 season. 
 
The Conqs in year one under Coach Witherspoon won the KJCCC title going 25-10 overall and 18-6 in KJCCC play making the NJCAA Division I national tournament going to the Elite Eight. Last year the Conqs were just 9-22 and 7-17 on the season. 
 
Headed into the 2024-25 season the Conqs return three players and reload with 10 new faces with two transfers and eight incoming freshmen. The Conqs have been selected to finish sixth in the preseason KJCCC Division I coaches poll. 
 
Last season the Conqs average 75.7 points per game on 41.1% shooting, while giving up 85 points per game on 46.6% shooting. While under Coach Witherspoon during the 2022-23 season the Conqs averaged 83 points per game on 44.4% shooting and held teams to 78.1 points per game on 42% shooting. 
 
The duo of Jamari Gamble and Jayse Boatwright return after both playing in over 81% of the contest games last season. Gamble started 21 games for the Conqs last season averaging 9.6 points per game on 37.7% from three-point range, while adding 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and one steal per game. Boatwright primarily came off the bench for the Conqs his freshman season averaging 5.1 points per game on 52.5% shooting adding 2.1 rebounds per game. 
 
Kejuan Payne also returns for the Conqs after a redshirt season last year due to injury but gives the Conqs an athletic wing that has spent time in the program and understands what Coach Witherspoon is looking for on the court. 
 
Kyle Burns and Keshawn Brown Jr. transferred to Dodge City after playing one season at the NCAA Division I level at Radford University and Western Carolina University, respectively. Burns has been out of high school for two years but only saw action last season at Radford after his first year was cut short before it started due to health issues, last season, he played in 16 games for Radford and posted an 11-point game against Notre Dame (MD). Burns is a strong combo guard that can knock down shots all over the floor. Brown comes to Dodge City by way of Western Carolina where he played in 12 games for the Catamounts last season. He will look to help lead the Conqs in the backcourt. 
 
One big difference for the Conqs headed into the 2024-25 season from last year will be depth and size. At the forward spot and on the wing the Conqs have several incoming potential playmakers. Fred Saunders from Detroit, Michigan is a versatile guard/forward who has the ability to be a big playmaker for the Conqs. Dauoda Cisse and Koch-Deng Koch both give the Conqs athletic guys that can step in and make an impact with their length and motor while giving the Conqs guys that can swing outside or get in the post. Jhonn Charles and Wesly Rosa give the Conqs more length and big presences inside at the rim looking to contribute on the boards and inside the paint. 
 
In the backcourt, along with what returns and transfers in for the Conqs there are three more guards that all can jump in to make impacts for the Conqs in several ways. Derrick Rivers, Mynor Strong, and Maurice Shumate all bring different aspects to the floor for the Conqs and will look to factor into the equation this season. 
 
The schedule features six non-conference contests with the season-opening on Wednesday, November 6th at home against McCook at 7:30 pm. The Conqs will also compete at the Garden City CC Classic and the State Fair Classic, along with a road against a traditionally ranked Indian Hills team in the non-conference matchup. Conference play will commence on Wednesday, November 20th at Garden City, and then have their first home conference matchup against Cloud County on Saturday, November 23rd.