WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Basketball postseason accolades have been released. The list of honors includes Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Senior Scholar Athlete, Coaching Staff of the Year, First Team, Second Team, and Third Team All-Conference.

Each season, the NAC names a Sportsmanship Team, with one honoree per institution nominated by their head coach. This recognition goes to individuals who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, positively impacting the culture of men’s basketball with integrity beyond the game’s requirements.

UMaine-Farmington claimed four major honors with Zach McLaughlin highlighting the major awards as the 2026 NAC Player of the Year. The Beaver’s Jason Reynolds and Husson’s Gil Matondo were selected as Co-Defensive Players of the Year with Maine Maritime newcomer Drew Hamilton named Rookie of the Year. The Beaver’s Aidan O’Connell earned Senior Scholar accolade and the Farmington was voted Coaching Staff of the Year by their NAC peers.

McLaughlin (Hampden, Maine) earns his first men’s basketball postseason accolade with Player of the Year as well as earning First Team All-Conference. He averaged 25.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game this season while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.1% from three-point range. During conference play, he elevated his performance to 26.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the same efficient shooting splits. Nationally, he ranked eighth in NCAA Division III in total points scored, ninth in total field goals made, 41st in total three-pointers made, and 32nd in three-pointers made per game. He recorded 16 games of 20 or more points, including six performances of 30 or more points.

A two-time NAC Player of the Week honoree this season, McLaughlin possesses the unique ability to score at all three levels — in isolation, off the catch, and off the bounce. His dynamic offensive skillset consistently stretched defenses and opened the floor for an offense that averaged 87.1 points per game.

Reynolds (Winslow, Maine) also collects his first men’s basketball postseason honors after being named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. The junior forward averaged 17.5 points and 15.2 rebounds per game this season, elevating his play to 19.4 points and 16.8 rebounds per game during conference competition. He led both the NAC and NCAA Division III in double-doubles (23), total rebounds (379), defensive rebounds per game (10.2), and rebounds per game (15.2). Reynolds recorded four 20-rebound performances this season, including a career-high 24 rebounds against SUNY Cobleskill.

A two-time NAC Player of the Week and eight-time NAC Defensive Player of the Week selection this season, Reynolds also earned recognition on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week. He capped off his historic campaign by becoming the program’s single-season rebounding record holder, surpassing a mark that had stood since the 1965–66 season.
Matondo, a senior forward from Atlanta, Ga., concluded his senior campaign as the 2026 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-Conference selection — earning All-Conference recognition for the first time in his career. Matondo continues to be the best on-ball defender in the Conference, game-in and game-out, having the ability to guard anyone on the floor. He is nearly always matched up with the opposing team's best scorer, Matondo displays the quickness and discipline to stay with guards and the physicality and athleticism to match up with post players. Matondo leads the NAC with 37 blocks with 27 of those coming in conference play, while also recording 20 steals, including 13 in conference play.

Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball first-year Hamilton finished his debut season averaging 16.1 points, 2.2 rebounds with 36 assists, 29 steals and three blocks. Hamilton earned NAC rookie of the week five times and was the Maine Men's Basketball Coaches and Writers Association Rookie of the Week four times. 

O'Connell (Camden, Maine) was selected, by vote of the conference head coaches and NAC institutions’ Faculty Athletic Representatives, as the 2026 NAC Men’s Basketball Senior Scholar Athlete. He has distinguished himself as one of the Farmington’s most well-rounded student-athletes, excelling in the classroom, in the community, and on the court. A 4.0 student majoring in Applied Economics and Public Policy with minors in Data Analytics and Coaching, O’Connell earned Dean’s List – High Honors recognition every semester while participating in the Honors Program. His academic accomplishments were further recognized with NAC All-Academic Team honors in 2024 and 2025, as well as selection to the NABC Honors Court in 2025.

Beyond the classroom, O’Connell completed the Maine Government Summer Internship Program in 2025 with the State of Maine’s Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, where he researched emerging loan products, drafted policy proposals for the Maine Legislature, and assisted with consumer complaints and fraud investigations. He also served as a Compliance Assistant with a FinTech startup from Spring 2023 through Fall 2024, contributing to reporting, monitoring, audit support, and regulatory compliance efforts. Through a Business Anthropology engagement project, he partnered with a local youth nonprofit to identify areas for organizational improvement and presented his findings publicly. A leader within the men’s basketball program, O’Connell was a member of the Beaver Leadership Academy, led recruiting visits and campus tours, served as a preseason and postseason lifting group leader, and mentored underclassmen on course planning. He also volunteered at the annual UMF All-Sports Camp and the Camden Hills Windjammer Basketball Camp.

On the court, O’Connell was a three-year member of the program who played key rotation minutes in several contests, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range.

The UMaine-Farmington leadership of Head Coach Quinn Newton and Assistant Coaches Marcus Christopher and Tom Nadeau receive their first Coaching Staff of the Year honors since Newton took over for the program during the 2024-25 season. The Beavers earned the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Men’s Basketball Tournament after posting a near perfect 17-1 conference record where they claimed their first NAC men’s basketball title since 2010, second overall.

2026 NAC Men's Basketball Major Awards & All-Conference
Player of the Year – Zach McLaughlin, UMaine-Farmington
Co-Defensive Player of the Year – Jason Reynolds, UMaine-Farmington
Co-Defensive Player of the Year – Gil Matondo, Husson University
Rookie of the Year – Drew Hamilton, Maine Maritime Academy
Senior Scholar Athlete - Aidan O’Connell, UMaine-Farmington
Coaching Staff of the Year – UMaine-Farmington
 
First Team
Zach McLaughlin, UMaine-Farmington
Jason Reynolds, UMaine-Farmington
Eric Ahlers, Husson University
Gregory Gonyea Jr., Vermont State University Lyndon
Jack Banks, Maine Maritime Academy
              
Second Team
Akhe McMichael, UMaine-Presque Isle
Connor Heald, Husson University
TJ Blackmon, Thomas College
Andre McCauley, Husson University
Gil Matondo, Husson University
              
Third Team
Doug McCalla, UMaine-Presque Isle
Marquay Tanksley, SUNY Cobleskill
Drew Hamilton, Maine Maritime Academy
Gabe Michaud, UMaine-Farmington
Marcus Schade, Maine Maritime Academy
 
Sportsmanship Team
Sean Chanakira, Lesley University
Noah Colin, SUNY Delhi
Josiah Dancy, Maine Maritime Academy
Tyler Dias, Vermont State University Lyndon
Darone Frierson , Vermont State University Johnson
Ty Henke, Husson University
Joelle Hodge, UMaine-Presque Isle
Liam Jefferds, UMaine-Farmington
Payton Mitchell, Thomas College
Cameron Rhode, SUNY Cobleskill