Margrave to transfer from Louisburg to New Hampton prep

Julian Margrave had a senior year to remember for the Louisburg boys basketball team. 

Margrave led the Wildcats to their first ever state championship game appearance and a runner-up finish in Class 4A. He was also a unanimous All-Frontier League selection and an all-state player.

Basketball is life for the 6-foot, 9-inch forward and he wanted a new challenge for himself. As it turns out, growth isn’t always easy.

Margrave recently announced he would be transferring from Louisburg to New Hampton Prep for his senior campaign. 

“It was a very, very tough decision to leave my hometown,” Margrave said. “I’m leaving so many friends and family members that I’ve been surrounded by my whole life, but I believe taking this next step and going to prep school is the right idea and best move for my future.”

New Hampton is an independent college preparatory high school in New Hampton, New Hampshire.

Margrave gave his commitment to New Hampton coach Andrew Gale after exploring the idea of playing his final year of high school outside of Louisburg.

“My AAU coach and I have been taking to each other around April to really get me to go somewhere,” Margrave said. “I told him I wanted someplace to be challenged everyday on and off the court and in and out of the classroom. He gave me a few spots to choose from and after a great zoom call with Andrew Gale, I knew right away that was the place for me.”

Margrave had a busy summer of basketball as he plays for KC RUN GMC, one of the top AAU programs in the country. With a lot of success, also brought some college offers.

He received Division I offers from South Alabama, UMKC, Valparaiso, Radford and Nebraska-Omaha.

“The summer was great,” Margrave said. “I’ve been blessed enough to play for what I think is one of the, if not the best AAU program in the nation, KC RUN GMC. I’ve been able to play with many great players who are going to do magnificent things in the future and it’s so much fun to practice with them and learn so many new things day in and day out. I felt as if I improved immensely,

“I feel that my hard work is definitely starting to pay off and that this is really just the beginning of my career.”

The next stop in his career will be New Hampton and he is looking forward to another challenge.

“There are so many goals that I want to achieve at New Hampton, of course in the everyday aspect I want to get better,” Margrave said. “I’m really trying to take my life day by day and focusing on the present moment and not worrying about the past or future. But most importantly I want to win. New Hampton has a great winning program and I see myself as a valuable piece to helping them win a championship! 

Margrave averaged 17.7 points a game last season for Louisburg, along with 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

The fact he won’t be suiting up for the Wildcats this season was a tough decision for him to make, but he has many fond memories to look back on.

“Man, I’ve had so many great moments with Louisburg,” he said. “Of course my favorite moment is definitely running out of the tunnel at the state championship. Those are one of those moments that are priceless and you can never get back, just the adrenaline and excitement I had to really be in the championship with my hometown team was enormous. But most importantly my favorite moments being at Louisburg were just the everyday events I had at school, being around my friends.

“Going to class, cracking jokes with everyone at lunch, and really just being surrounded by people who make me forget about basketball and focus on having a great time.”