FARMINGTON, Maine - University of Maine at Farmington junior standout Zach McLaughlin (Hampden, Maine) has been named to the D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Fifth Team, as announced by the organization on Wednesday afternoon.

Coming off one of the best individual seasons in program history, McLaughlin was named North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Player of the Year, earned a spot on the D3hoops.com Region 1 All-Region Second Team and the NABC All-District Second Team, and was named NAC Tournament MVP. McLaughlin will look to once again lead the Beavers to new heights during the 2026-27 season.

Individually, McLaughlin finished as the nation's sixth-leading scorer, averaging 25.8 points per game. In 26 appearances, McLaughlin totaled 670 points, setting a new Farmington program record and eclipsing the previous mark of 648 points set by Cam Brown during the 1977-78 season. The 6-foot-2 guard achieved his impressive scoring output with remarkable efficiency, shooting 46.7% from the floor, 41.0% from beyond the arc, and 79.4% from the free-throw line.

A three-level scorer, McLaughlin scored at least 20 points in 19 games last season, including eight performances of 30 or more points. He put together a remarkable stretch from December 6 through February 22, scoring at least 20 points in 15 of 16 games. That stretch included a three-game run to close the regular season and open the NAC Tournament in which he averaged 36.7 points per game. McLaughlin scored 35 points apiece against Thomas and Maine Maritime to close the regular season before erupting for a career-high 40 points in the opening round of the NAC Tournament against SUNY Cobleskill.

In Farmington's second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, McLaughlin scored 20 points to help the Beavers defeat 10th-ranked Montclair State in the first round. In the second round, he continued his impressive scoring, recording 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor and knocking down 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc. However, Farmington's season came to an end against Yeshiva.

With his selection as a Preseason All-American, McLaughlin becomes just the second athlete in program history to earn the distinction, joining Terion Moss '23, who received the honor ahead of the 2022-23 season.

McLaughlin and the Beavers will open their 2026-27 campaign on November 8 on the road against Suffolk University.