UNION COUNTY, NJ — Arthur L. Johnson High School produced a 20-win season by going 21-4 and was the last Union County basketball team this year, boys and girls, to lose a game after an unprecedented 19-0 start.
The Crusaders also captured the Union County Conference’s Valley Division crown with a perfect 10-0 league mark.
Roselle Catholic High School and Plainfield High School ended up tied for first in the Watchung Division with 10-2 records that included wins against each other. Both then went on to win state championships last weekend to cap incredible 2024-2025 campaigns.
Eleven Union County squads finished with winning records and 14 won as many as 11 games.
Plainfield captured the Union County Tournament for the fifth time and for the first time since 2012, defeating Roselle Catholic, 66-53, in the final at Kean University, after the teams split Watchung Division clashes.
Indeed, some of the best boys basketball in the state was played right here in Union County.
For the third time in four years, Union County has produced two state champions, including Union Catholic High School and Roselle Catholic in 2023 and Elizabeth High School and Roselle Catholic in 2022.
Union County has had at least one state champion every year since 2011 and has had at least one team reach a state championship game every year since 2002. No other county in New Jersey can boast of that consistent championship game feat.
Arthur L. Johnson, the only Union County team to finish first in its division without any division losses, was sparked by the play of a solid junior class including Dean Yellen Jr., Luke LaPorta, Ryan Malcolm and Devin Patterson.
Yellen paced the Crusaders in scoring with 415 points and enters his senior season with 930 total. LaPorta scored 294 points and paced Arthur L. Johnson in steals with 43.
Malcolm scored 185 points and Patterson 137. Malcolm also led the Crusaders in rebounds with 174, assists with 51 and blocks with 28.
Senior guard Jake Brower turned in a solid season, scoring 133 points, grabbing 60 rebounds, dishing out 50 assists and coming up with 41 steals.
Arthur L. Johnson had 15 victories by double-digit margins.
On Friday, March 14, Roselle Catholic defeated St. Rose High School, 55-51, at Rutgers University in the Non-Public B state championship game. Trailing by one point going into the fourth quarter, Roselle Catholic won the final eight minutes by a 16-11 margin.
Roselle Catholic was down 31-25 at the break, before outscoring St. Rose 14-9 in the third quarter.
The Lions were led offensively by Trevon Lewis with 21 points and Jalen Grant with 12. Lewis also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Coming up with four steals were Armagh Caldwell, Kahlik Thomas and Lewis.
Roselle Catholic captured the Non-Public B state championship for the third time in four years and for the seventh time overall, all titles won since 2013.
On Sunday, March 16, Plainfield played in front for most of the game, as the Cardinals downed Montgomery High School, 65-48, in the Group 4 final, played at Rutgers.
Plainfield captured Group 4 honors for only the third time and for the first time since 1983. The Cardinals won Group 4 for the first time in 1976.
Paving the way for Plainfield against Montgomery were Micah Gordon with 24 points and NaJai Hines with 18 and a team-leading 16 rebounds.
Union County Conference boys basketball for 2024-2025
Final Watchung Division standings
1-Plainfield, Roselle Catholic (10-2). 3-Elizabeth (7-5). 4-Union Catholic (5-6). 5-Westfield (5-7). 6-Linden (3-8). 7-Union (1-11).
Final Mountain Division standings
1-Scotch Plains–Fanwood (11-1). 2-Oratory Prep (8-4). 3-Rahway (7-4). 4-Summit (6-6). 5-Hillside (5-6). 6-New Providence, Cranford (2-10).
Final Valley Division standings
1-Arthur L. Johnson (10-0). 2-Abraham Clark (8-2). 3-Jonathan Dayton (5-5). 4-Governor Livingston (4-6). 5-Roselle Park (3-7). 6-David Brearley (0-10).
Roselle Catholic State Championships
2025: Non-Public B
2023: Non-Public B
2022: Non-Public B – then won final TOC
2018: Non-Public B – then won TOC
2015: Non-Public B – then won TOC
2014: Non-Public B
2013: Non-Public B – then won TOC
Plainfield State Championships
2025: Group 4 – then finished ranked No. 1 in state
2012: Group 3 – then reached TOC final
2011: Group 3 – then reached TOC final
1983: Group 4
1976: Group 4
Overall Records
Plainfield (29-3)
Roselle Catholic (24-6)
Arthur L Johnson (21-4)
Elizabeth (20-7)
Scotch Plains–Fanwood (19-7)
Westfield (18-11)
Oratory Prep (16-10)
Union Catholic (16-11)
Linden (15-12)
Rahway (15-12)
Hillside (14-12)
Summit (12-14)
Abraham Clark (11-14)
New Providence (11-18)
Jonathan Dayton (9-15)
Union (9-19)
Cranford (7-19)
Governor Livingston (6-17)
Roselle Park (6-18)
David Brearley (1-18)
File Photo