West Orange Native Elliot Cadeau Leads Michigan To NCAA Championship

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of West Orange communications officer Joseph Fagan. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

West Orange proudly celebrates hometown basketball standout Elliot Cadeau. His team captured the 2026 NCAA “March Madness” men’s basketball championship on Monday, April 6.

The University of Michigan secured its second national title in program history and first since 1989 by defeating the University of Connecticut (UConn), 69–63, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Cadeau, whose family still resides in West Orange, led Michigan with 19 points in the championship game and played a pivotal role throughout the tournament. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious “Most Outstanding Player” of the NCAA Tournament honor. It places him among some of the game’s all-time greats such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who won the award in previous years.

After transferring to Michigan in 2025 following two seasons at the University of North Carolina, Cadeau quickly became a driving force behind the Wolverines’ championship March Madness run. His success on the national stage is a tremendous source of pride for the West Orange community where he grew up and is still remembered fondly.

Congratulations to Elliot Cadeau, his family and friends, and the entire Michigan team on an incredible achievement that hasn’t gone unnoticed in his hometown of West Orange.

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