HAMPDEN – Daniel McCue, who helped Hampden Academy win its first Class A state championship in boys basketball and capped off his career with not only that gold ball but two Eastern Maine titles and several school records, will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall.

The 6-foot-3 guard, a four-year starter, opted for MIT after also considering Assumption and prep schools Phillips-Exeter and Brewster Academy.

“I decided to go there based mostly on the reputation of the school,” said McCue, also a high honors student throughout his four years at Hampden. “And when I went there I was really greeted kindly by the basketball team.”

“The academic environment there will be challenging,” he added, “but I think I’m up for it.”

MIT went 14-13 last winter, its fifth winning season in the last six years. The Engineers play in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, an NCAA Division III league with Babson, Clark, Coast Guard, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Springfield, Wellesley, Wheaton, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

McCue will take an impressive basketball resume to MIT. He scored 729 points for the Broncos and became Hampden’s career leader in assists (295), 3-point goals (87), consecutive starts (77), and total postseason starts (13).

As a sophomore, McCue joined with the likes of Jordan Cook, Blaine Meehan, Pat Moran, and J Uhrin to lead the Broncos from the No. 9 spot in the final Heal Points to the 2005 Class A state title. The Broncos defeated Deering of Portland 59-49 in the state final, the last Class A boys tourney game at the Bangor Auditorium.

McCue was named to the All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A North second team as a junior as he and the Broncos won a second straight EM title before falling to Deering 47-37 in the state final.

This winter, McCue led a youthful Hampden team that finished eighth in Eastern A.

Coach Russ Bartlett’s club then defeated Lawrence of Fairfield in the prelims before stunning top-ranked and undefeated Edward Little of Auburn 57-39 in the quarterfinals. Hampden fell to Messalonskee of Oakland in the semifinals to finish with an 11-10 record.

McCue was selected first-team All-KVAC Class A North, a McDonald’s Senior All-Star, an EM Class A all-tourney choice, and honorable mention Bangor Daily News All-Maine. He also was named to the KVAC All-Academic Team and the McDonald’s All-State Academic Team.

Hampden went 56-29 overall during McCue’s four years, 10-3 in postseason play.

“I’m definitely happy with my overall career at Hampden,” said McCue.