McIntyre Chooses Army Service Over Hoops

After a stellar high school basketball career at Hampden Academy, Ian McIntyre was studying at Husson University last month and getting ready for the upcoming college hoops season.

And then came September 17th.

It was the day he says he finally made the decision he had thought about for the last year or so.

He would leave school and start the process to join the military, the U.S. Army.

"I had been thinking about it on and off for quite a while and I just decided that it was what I wanted to do. I'll miss basketball be I am certain in my decision."

Yesterday, Ian McIntrye was in Portland to sign all of the paperwork required after passing all of the military tests and physicals.

He will leave for boot camp in Georgia December 27th and spend 22 weeks there. It's the beginning of a four year commitment to serve his country with the U.S. Army Infantry.

The 6-foot-5 McIntrye was a four year starter for coach Russ Bartlett and the Broncos basketball team, playing in Class A state title games. He was one of three finalists for the Mr. Maine Basketball Award back in March.

When I asked him about his favorite high school hoops memory, he chose last year's loss to Greely in the state game. His Hampden team battled back from a deficit only to have a last second shot to win the game fall short.

He didn't know it then but it would be his final time playing competitive hoops.