Former Hampden Academy standout Ian McIntyre will forego a planned college basketball career at Husson University to serve his country.
McIntyre, a finalist for the state’s Mr. Basketball Award as a high school senior last winter, on Tuesday was in Portland to complete the enlistment process to join the U.S. Army.
He is scheduled to leave Dec. 27 to begin basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
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“It was always a passion of mine when I was younger, but as I grew up I kind of forgot about it because that’s what happens,” said McIntyre, who signed up for a four-year hitch. “By the time I got to my senior year I realized I actually had to make a decision about what I was going to do because by next year I wouldn’t be in high school any more.
“I had a lot of friends going into the military, and that just sparked my interest again.”
McIntyre made a verbal commitment last December to continue his studies and basketball career at Husson this fall, but after two weeks of classes on the Bangor campus in September, he left school to pursue his military interest.
“I tried college out, I gave it a good try but there wasn’t much there for me,” McIntyre said. “I loved Husson, I loved the campus and I loved the basketball program that [Eagles’ coach Warren] Caruso has, but my mind was somewhere else.
“I just felt like I needed to be somewhere else and doing something else, and finally I made the call.”
McIntyre said he has had several relatives who entered military service, including an uncle in the Marines, a grandfather who served in the Army for four years, and multiple great grandparents and great great grandparents who served in the Navy and the Air Force.
McIntyre said after basic training he will remain at Fort Benning for training more specific to his interest in serving in the infantry.
“Growing up I always loved the idea,” McIntyre said, who added that he is taking a wait-and-see approach about pursuing a full military career. “Whenever I imagined the military as a kid that’s what I imagined doing, and last year when I really started to think about it again that was the only job that really piqued my interest and that I actually wanted to do.”
McIntyre enjoyed a storied basketball career at Hampden, where the four-year starter scored more than 1,000 points and grabbed more than 500 rebounds to rank among the school’s all-time leaders in both categories.
As a freshman he helped coach Russ Bartlett’s club win the 2015 Class A state championship. As a senior he led the Broncos to a second regional championship and another berth in the state final, where Hampden fell by a single point, 47-46, to Greely of Cumberland Center last winter.
Hampden compiled an overall record of 73-10 during McIntyre’s high school career.
“I’m already missing it,” he said.
