CALDWELL- London Caldwell had to bid farewell to her teammates, other classmates and beloved teachers at Immaculate Conception when the 100-year-old Montclair-based Catholic school closed its doors for good in June.
As a rising senior and with one more year of high school to go, the talented 5-foot-9 backcourt ace for last season’s Non-Public B state champions had to find a new home to finish her scholastic academic and playing career.
Hello West Orange High School and the opportunity to join the holdover members of the Group 4 state runner-up team from the 2024-2025 hoops campaign.
With third-team all-state guard Rhyan Watt held out of action due to a sprained ankle absorbed as a member of the top-flight AAU program Team Sharp, Caldwell was the dominant force in both her team’s victories in both the semifinal and championship games of the first Mount St. Dominic Summer League playoffs as she drove the lane with authority, pulled up to drain her perimeter jump shots and simply overwhelmed the opposition throughout the evening in Codey Gymnasium.
Combining with holdover starters in guards Jordyn Batts and Kennedy Curry, who provided their own key baskets, and emerging ‘bigs’ Lynn Charles and Destiny Kearney, who ate up space inside and helped rule the boards, Caldwell was an easy choice as the MVP in the playoffs as West Orange roared past Caldwell, 44-30, in the semifinals, and then defeated the host Mount, 40-32, in the championship game.
“London Caldwell dominated in both games, and was the best player on the floor tonight,” said Mount coach Brian Dorf, who directed a very well-run, first-year summer league. “She was unstoppable and West Orange showed why they are going to be terrific again next season and a very difficult team to beat for anyone in the SEC.”
For Caldwell, while it was an emotional farewell as well as inevitable transition in exiting IC for another school for her senior year, it is a decision that is already beginning to pay dividends as summertime basketball has been the recent focus before heading into the start of classes at her new school in early September.
“We all found out late last season that Immaculate would be closing and the news certainly was painful because I loved the people there, but I also knew that I had to start thinking about finding a new school,” said Caldwell, who also just gave a verbal commitment to continue her basketball and academic career at Siena College next fall. “I definitely miss my teammates who I won a state championship with, but we all had to find other schools and I know that West Orange is going to be very good for me.”
“Basketball-wise we’re finally starting to get comfortable with each other as we’ve played a lot of games together this summer, and it’s all starting to come together. And, when Rhyan is playing with us we know that we have one of the best backcourts in the state and everyone wants to continue to win championships!”
West Orange finished 26-8 last winter while capturing both an Essex County Tournament title - 43-41 over London Caldwell-led IC - and a North 1, Group 4 state sectional title, while also giving Hillsborough all it could handle before falling, 55-52, in the overall Group 4 state final at Rutgers’ Jersey Mike’s Arena.
The Mountaineers certainly know that standout center Anaya Karriem (North Carolina A&T) and veteran guard Kyley Gary-Grayson (Coppin State) have since moved on to the next level; however, there is definitely talent still in tow with Caldwell and reigning all-stater Watt (team-leading 17.3 points and 5.3 steals per game last season) heading a stellar and deep backcourt along with Batts and Curry.
“While we won’t have Anaya and Kyley anymore, who were both great players and terrific teammates, while we’re losing, we’re also gaining, with a player like London joining us this year, and everyone else getting better,” said Batts, a rising senior who scored 3.3 ppg last season while providing strong defense and stellar floor play. “I look at it as kind of a blessing in disguise as it all gives other girls a chance to step up and I feel that we have the talent to go back to the county and state finals, and win both this time!”
