He played college basketball for the Northwestern Wildcats. He has been a three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection (2010–2nd team; 2011–3rd team coaches/honorable mention media; 2012–1st team) and the Northwestern statistical leader in several categories. He was the 2010 Sporting News Most Improved Player. He holds several Northwestern all-time records, including single-season scoring. He was selected as an honorable mention Associated Press2012 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American. He won the State Farm College 3-Point Championship three-point shooting contest at the 2012 Final Four.[2]
As a senior, he was selected to the IHSA 4A all-state second-team by Associated Press and the 3A/4A all-state first-team by Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. In addition, he won the 2008 IHSA 4A slam dunk championship at the state tournament,[12] but finished second to Marland Johnson by a point in a contest of the winners of the four classes.[13] As a senior, he finished 8th in the Illinois Mr. Basketball voting.[14] Following his senior season, he participated in local and regional All-Star contests such as the 34th annual Foundation For Student Athletes city-suburban all-star event.[15] Although ESPN.com ranked Shurna as the 53rd best high school basketballpower forward in the national class of 2008,[16] he was not among the ranked players by state or position according to either Rivals.com or Scout.com.[17][18]
Shurna defends against Brandon Paul of Illinois (1-23-2010)
He played forward for the 2009–10 Northwestern Wildcats and led the team in scoring and rebounding.[21] Following the 2009–10 All-Big Ten Conference regular season, he was named a second-team All-conference selection by both the coaches and the media.[22][23] He was twice named Big Ten men's basketball player of the week during the season.[24][25] He was recognized as an All-District second-team selection by the National Association of Basketball Coaches making him eligible for the State Farm Division I All‐America teams.[26] He finished his sophomore season among the Big Ten leaders in many statistical categories: 3rd in scoring, 7th in rebounding, 10th in free throw percentage, 8th in blocked shots, and 6th in minutes played.[27] He was recognized by Sporting News as the Most Improved Player after raising his scoring average from 7.3 points as a freshman to 18.5 as a sophomore, while improving his rebounding average from 2.6 to 6.4.[28] During the season, he established new Northwestern Wildcats basketball single-season records in both total points (619), surpassing Evan Eschmeyer, and field goals made (217), surpassing Dale Kelly. In so doing, he helped Northwestern establish a new school record for single-season wins with 20.[29]
Junior
As a junior, he was a preseason top 50 candidate for both the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year.[30][31] In the first game of his junior season, Shurna tied his career-high with 31 points on his way to Big Ten Player of the Week honors.[32] On December 20, in week 6 of the season, Shurna repeated as conference player of the week.[33] Following the 2010–11 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, he was a third team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and an honorable mention by the media.[34][35]Sports Illustrated named him as one of the ten best players in the Big Ten Conference.[36]
Shurna submitted the paperwork to declare for the 2011 NBA draft following the season, though he did not hire an agent.[37] He withdrew his name prior to the May 8 deadline and chose to return for his senior year.[38][39] He was one of 20 players who tried out to represent USA Basketball at the 2011 Summer Universiade, but did not make the team.[40]
Senior
Shurna in 2012
As a senior, he repeated as a preseason top 50 watchlist selection for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award.[41] He was also a Sporting News Preseason All-American (2nd team).[42] When Shurna scored 37 points on November 17 against LSU it heralded a career-high and tied for the most points scored by a Northwestern player during the 12-year Bill Carmody era.[43][44][45] On December 18, he scored 32 points as Northwestern defeated Eastern Illinois.[46] Shurna earned Co-Big Ten Player of the week on February 6 after averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in wins over Nebraska and Illinois on February 2 and 5, respectively.[47][48][49] On February 12, he posted his third 30-point game of the season against Purdue.[50] With three 30-point games as a senior, he brought his career total to six.[51] On February 18 he became Northwestern's all-time leading scorer in a game against Minnesota, passing Billy McKinney's record of 1,900 points (a record since surpassed by Boo Buie in 2024).[52][53] He was selected as a first team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media.[54] He was selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to its 10-man 2011–12 Men's All-District V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI) Team.[55] Shurna was a first team selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All‐District 7 team on March 14.[56] Shurna finished the season with a 20.0 point per game average, which led the Big Ten Conference.[57] He was named an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.[58] He competed in the 2012 State Farm 3-Point Contest, beating Juan Fernandez 21–20 in the final round by making his final seven shots.[2] Shurna was also selected to participate in the NABC 2012 Reese's Division I All-Star Game at the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament final four.[59] Shurna had 12 points in the game.[60]
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft, Shurna signed a 2012 Las Vegas NBA Summer League contract with the Atlanta Hawks.[61] On September 10, 2012, Shurna signed a 1-year partially guaranteed contract with the New York Knicks.[62] He was waived at the end of the preseason.[63] By the beginning of December 2012, he had made his professional debut with Strasbourg IG of LNB Pro A.[64] Shurna was originally signed as an injury replacement for Nicolas de Jong until the end of 2012, but was signed longer term as it became apparent that de Jong would be out for an extended period.[65]
^Tucker, Steve (May 12, 2007). "Goler HR propels Griffins". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 77.
^O'Brien, Michael (May 14, 2007). "Fruendt, Shurna commit to NU". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 83.
^Ginnetti, Toni, Lacy J. Banks and Herb Gould (November 15, 2007). "Kelly takes long way home to DePaul – NU inks pair of area recruits Simeon's Simpson 'comfortable' with Illini". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 78.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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