SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – With the 2026-27 season less than two weeks away, senior Jack Plesser of the Union College men's basketball team received some early honors by earning D3hoops.com Preseason All-America third-team recognition, it was announced on Wednesday.
 
Plesser was one of six forwards named to the first, second or third teams in the preseason listings, which are chosen from the previous years' All-America and All-Region teams. His honor marks the first time in program history that a Union basketball player has earned national preseason recognition from D3hoops.com since the teams were started in 2010.
 
Plesser collected a multitude of honors during his junior season, including NABC second-team All-America laurels and a D3hoops.com All-Region first-team selection. The 2025-26 Liberty League Player of the Year, Plesser also was named a Jostens Trophy finalist and went on to be named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first-team selection as well.
 
As a junior, Plesser averaged 22.6 points per game to lead the Liberty League in scoring by 3.5 ppg and finished 23rd in Division III in both scoring average and field goals made thanks to a conference-best 55.3 percent (214 of 387) field-goal percentage. The forward also ended the year second among conference players in both rebounding (7.6 rpg) and blocks (37), as well as third in free-throw percentage (76.2 percent). On the season, Plesser scored double figures in 24 of 25 games, highlighted by six games with 30+ points and 15 games with 20 or more points to go along with seven double-doubles.
 
The Fairfield, Conn., native ended the season sixth on Union's all-time single-season scoring list with 566 points and his 22.6 ppg average is fifth-best ever by a Union player. He also tied for fourth in single-season field goals (214) and sixth in free throws (128) as well.
 
Heading into his final season, Plesser already ranks 14th in program history with 1,263 points and his 16.4 ppg scoring average currently is ninth-best among Union players all-time.
 
Plesser and a veteran Garnet Charger squad will begin the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, November 11 against Plattsburgh State University at Viniar Athletic Center.