Union County Recap

The Union County Conference claimed a state champion amongst its honors for 2024.

Season Recap

The Elizabeth Minutemen climbed the mountain once again as the kings of Group IV. Phil Colicchio's squad finished 23-5 and capped their season with a dominant state championship victory over Lenape(57-41). The Minutemen were led by 6'4" senior London Carson, the most electric player in the county. Carson averaged 16ppg and adapted into a slasher role as his HS career progressed. He got help from classmate Chris Clark as a rugged role player. Looking ahead, the bulk of the squad is slated to return and make another run at the title, led by 6'5" junior guard JoJo Torres, who improved immensely as the year went on, maturing into a leadership role. Cam McRae, Kareem Anthony, Jayden Johnson and Siraj Abdellah return in the backcourt, giving Elizabeth plenty to work with.

Union Catholic, one season removed from a Non Public A State Title, added more hardware this year with the Union County championship and Watchung Conference title. The Vikes finished 22-7 on the season and scored big wins over Cranford, Roselle Catholic, Rutgers Prep, Elizabeth and others. The core returns in AJ Altobelli, Luke Schorr, FK Muntari and Yaw Ansong. They do, however, lose key seniors Elijah Peters and Terrance Wood to graduation. They'll be, at worst, "among the favorites" to win the county next winter.

Plainfield has surged back into the fray behind coach Michael Gordon and a young freshman he knows decently well--Micah. Plainfield went from struggling to contender almost overnight with the younger Gordon's arrival. They were 19-8 this year, defeated Elizabeth in the regular season, went on the road and knocked out Phillipsburg in the state playoffs and then lost a nailbiter to the Minutemen in the North II Group IV Final. They''ll be among the contenders next year with almost the entire squad back.

The team with the "story of the season" were the Cranford Cougars. Powered by the most under-recruited player in the New Jersey Class of 2024, 6'6" forward Nick Amitie, the Cougars powered their way to a 21-7 season. Led by Amitie, they advanced to the semis of both the county tournament and North II Group III sectional tournament. The Salve Regina commit flattened his competition all year but saved his best for the playoffs. In the county tournament, he torched Plainfield(32pts &14reb) and kept them close vs Union Catholic(27 pts & 9 reb). In the states, he obliterated Ferris for 46 points & 14 rebounds and then followed it up with another double-double against Chatham. Chase Teel and Chris Santarelli were senior leaders who also graduate, but the Cougars bring back four players with experience next year...The impossible question is...As expected...Who replaces Amitie, a scholarship level player, missed by literally every program within 100 miles of Cranford, that fell into Salve's lap?

Union County Player Of The Year Presented By Wheelie Good Pierogi

London Carson, Elizabeth

The best player in Union County put the Minutemen on his back in the big games and carried them to a second state title in three seasons. It put an exclamation point on an excellent career at Elizabeth High. Amitie had a serious case to be POTY but Carson drove the bus to a state title and as such, is rewarded.

Union County Conference First Team Sensational Seven

Nick Amitie, Cranford

AJ Altobelli, Union Catholic

Micah Gordon, Plainfield

FK Muntari, Union Catholic

Jalen Grant, Roselle Catholic

Cam McRae, Elizabeth

Ethan Mgbako, Roselle Catholic

Union County Conference Second Team Sensational Seven

Luke Schorr, Union Catholic

Yaw Ansong, Union Catholic

Jonathan Hillsman, Roselle Catholic

JoJo Torres, Elizabeth

Chris Clark, Elizabeth

Nas Robinson, Linden

Elijah Peters, Union Catholic

Union County Conference Third Team Sensational Seven

Rashawn Williams, Plainfield

Jekhi Burnam, Linden

Shane Sheehan, Westfield

Corey Rust, New Providence

Jaden Carpien, Scotch Plains

Dean Yellen Jr, Johnson Regional

John Pirone, Oratory

Final Rankings

1. Elizabeth(23-5)

2. Union Catholic(22-7)

3. Roselle Catholic(14-12)

4. Cranford(21-7)

5. Plainfield(19-8)

6. Linden(16-11)

7. New Providence(19-7)

8. Scotch Plains(15-12)

9. Westfield(14-12)

10. Johnson Regional(13-9)