John Shurna

John Shurna

Shurna with Northwestern
No. 24 Valencia Basket
Position Power forward
League Liga ACB
Eurocup
Personal information
Born (1990-04-30) April 30, 1990
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Nationality American / Lithuanian
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school Glenbard West
(Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
College Northwestern (2008–2012)
NBA draft 2012 / Undrafted
Playing career 2012–present
Career history
2012–2013 Strasbourg IG
2013–2014 FIATC Joventut
2014–2015 Darüşşafaka
2015–present Valencia Basket
Career highlights and awards
  • All-Big Ten: (2010-2nd team; 2011-3rd team coaches/honorable mention media; 2012-1st team)
  • Northwestern single-season scoring record
  • Northwestern career scoring record
  • Big Ten scoring champion (2012)

John William Shurna (born April 30, 1990) is an American–Lithuanian[1] professional basketball player who plays for Valencia Basket of the Liga ACB. He is the 2012 Big Ten scoring champion. He played in the 2012 NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks. He then signed with the New York Knicks, but was waived at the end of the preseason.

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 and career scoring. He was selected as an honorable mention Associated Press 2012 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]

In high school, he was the 2008 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A Slam Dunk Champion. He was a member of the gold-medal-winning USA Basketball team at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

High school

Shurna was a 2007 and 2008 Chicago Tribune All-State boys basketball team special mention selection.[3][4] As a junior, in March 2007, he led Glenbard West High School to the Class AA supersectional for the first time since 1938,[5] but they lost to Lockport Township High School 53–50 despite 27 points by Shurna, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, but only 21 according to the Daily Southtown and Chicago Tribune.[6][7][8] He committed to Northwestern University on May 13, 2007,[9][10] but he did not sign his National Letter of Intent until November 14.[11]

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 basketball power 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]

Name Home town High school / college Height Weight Commit date
John Shurna
PF
Glen Ellyn, Illinois Glenbard West (IL) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) May 13, 2007 
Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 82
Overall recruiting rankings:   ESPN: 53 (PF)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College

Freshman

As a true freshman, he started all 31 games for the 2008–09 Northwestern Wildcats.[12] Shurna was a member of Team USA basketball during the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship competition held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 2, 2009 until July 12. He played in all 9 games, starting 2. Despite averaging the fewest minutes (12.2), he was fifth on the team in rebounding with (3.9).[19] The USA team earned the gold medal.[20]

Sophomore

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

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 February 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.[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]

After the played on the Milwaukee Bucks' 2013 NBA Summer League team,[66] Shurna signed a 2-year contract with Joventut Badalona.[67] He signed with the Toronto Raptors for the 2014 NBA Summer League and posted 21 points on 6-for-9 field goal shooting including 5 three point shots in his July 11 debut.[68] In August 2014, he signed a one-year contract with Turkish Basketball League team Darüşşafaka.[69]

On July 27, 2015, he signed a one-year contract with Valencia Basket of Spain.[70]

Personal

Shurna was born in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, to Tony and Suzy Shurna.[12] At Northwestern, he was a double major in sociology and learning and organizational change.[12]

Notes

  1. "LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS VIDAUS REIKALŲ MINISTRAS". Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  2. 1 2 "NU's Shurna wins 3-point title". Chicago Tribune. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  3. Sakamoto, Bob (2007-03-23). "Sharing rock 'n' rolling: The 2006-7 Tribune All-State boys basketball first team: Music to any coach's ears: All-Staters who know teamwork trumps a one-man show". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  4. Sakamoto, Bob (2008-03-23). "Title raises Hare's profile: The 2007-8 Tribune All-State boys basketball first team: Marshall senior is tops in this class after capturing state championship". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  5. McGavin, Patrick Z. (2007-03-13). "Shurna doing it all for upstart Glenbard W.". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 82.
  6. Akouris, Tina (2007-03-14). "Porters packing for state: Lockport 53, Glenbard West 50". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 95.
  7. Kuchta, Chris (2007-03-14). "Lockport makes believers". Daily Southtown. p. B7.
  8. Surico, Dave (2007-03-14). "Durham delivers 2nd-half comeback: Porters overcome 7-point deficit: Lockport 53, Glenbard West 50". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  9. Tucker, Steve (2007-05-12). "Goler HR propels Griffins". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 77.
  10. O'Brien, Michael (2007-05-14). "Fruendt, Shurna commit to NU". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 83.
  11. Ginnetti, Toni, Lacy J. Banks and Herb Gould (2007-11-15). "Kelly takes long way home to DePaul – NU inks pair of area recruits Simeon's Simpson 'comfortable' with Illini". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 78.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "24 John Shurna". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  13. Sakamoto, Bob and Colleen Kane (2008-03-16). "Boys Basketball Championship Bits". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  14. Sakamoto, Bob (2008-04-06). "Homewood-Flossmoor's Kevin Dillard named Mr. Basketball of Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  15. Sakamoto, Bob and Alan Sutton (2008-04-26). "Malnati steps down as New Trier coach: Dudle to replace Dineen for Buffalo Grove girls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  16. "John Shurna". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  17. "John Shurna". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  18. "John Shurna". Scout.com. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  19. "United States U19 Team: Season Statistics". USABasketball.com. 2009-07-12. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  20. "Big Ten Weekly Men's Basketball Release – Week 1: Ohio State tips off 2009–10 campaign Monday night in Columbus". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  21. "Northwestern Wildcats Statistics – 2009–10". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  22. "Big Ten Announces All-Big Ten Teams and Individual Honorees: Ohio State's Evan Turner Named Big Ten Player of the Year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  23. "Big Ten to announce men's All-Big Ten teams". Big Ten Network. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  24. "Northwestern and Ohio State Collect Player of the Week Laurels: OSU's Turner records second triple double of the year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  25. "Northwestern`s John Shurna Tabbed Big Ten Player of the Week". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  26. "National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2010 Division I All-District Teams" (PDF). National Association of Basketball Coaches. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  27. "The Automated ScoreBook: Overall Statistics". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  28. DeCourcy, Mike (2010-03-10). "Sporting News college basketball Most Improved Player of the Year: John Shurna, Northwestern". Sporting News. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  29. "Setting The Standard: Wildcats Establish Numerous New School Records Northwestern re-wrote the record books in 2009–10". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  30. "2010–2011 Men’s Preseason Top 50 Candidates". Woodenaward.com. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  31. "Big Ten Men's Basketball Weekly Release – Dec. 13, 2010". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  32. "Northwestern and Ohio State Garner First Weekly Honor of 2010–11 Season: Conference honors Northwestern's John Shurna and Ohio State's Jared Sullinger for season's first Player and Freshman of the Week awards". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  33. "Northwestern and Ohio State Earn Weekly Big Ten Honors: Northwestern's Shurna named Player of the Week; Ohio State's Sullinger named Freshman of the Week". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  34. "Big Ten Releases All-Big Ten Teams: Purdue's Johnson named Player of the Year". Big Ten Network. 2011-03-07. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  35. "2010–11 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team" (PDF). CBS Interactive. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  36. "Big Ten's Top 10 Players: John Shurna: 6–8 junior forward, Northwestern". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  37. "John Shurna to explore draft options". ESPN.com. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  38. "NU's John Shurna removes name from NBA draft".
  39. "Twenty-five players withdraw from Draft's early-entry list". NBA.com. 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  40. "Training Begins For 2011 USA Men's World University Games Team". USABasketball.com. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  41. "Big Ten Men's Basketball Weekly Release – Nov. 9, 2011: All 12 Big Ten teams open 2011–12 season this weekend". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  42. Brilowski, Nick (2011-08-29). "Shurna Tabbed Sporting News Preseason Second-Team All-American". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  43. "Shurna's Career-High 37 Points Lead NU to 88–82 Win Over LSU: Wildcats rally back from 14-point deficit". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  44. "Big Ten Men's Basketball Weekly Release – Nov. 21, 2011". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2011-11-21. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  45. "Northwestern 88, LSU 82". ESPN. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  46. "E Illinois 72 (6–4, 1–4 away); Northwestern 87 (10–1, 6–1 home)". ESPN. 2011-12-18. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  47. "Iowa, Northwestern and Ohio State Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Awards: Shurna, Sullinger tabbed Co-Player of the Week; White, Sobolewski named Co-Freshman of the Week". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  48. "Northwestern 84, Nebraska 74". ESPN. 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  49. "Northwestern 74, Illinois 70". ESPN. 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  50. "Northwestern 77 (15–9, 5–7 Big Ten); Purdue 87 (16–9, 6–6 Big Ten)". ESPN. 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  51. "Big Ten Men's Basketball Postseason Release – March 13, 2012: Six Big Ten teams enter NCAA Tournament play this week". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  52. "Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Northwestern Wildcats – Recap – February 18, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN. 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  53. Powers, Scott (2012-02-18). "Shurna sets Wildcats' career scoring record". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  54. "Big Ten Announces 2012 Men's Basketball Postseason Honors: Michigan State's Green named Big Ten Player of the Year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  55. "USBWA Names 2011–12 Men's All-District Teams". U.S. Basketball Writers Association. 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  56. "National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2012 Division I All-District Teams" (PDF). National Association of Basketball Coaches. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  57. "The Automated ScoreBook: Overall Statistics". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  58. "2011–12 AP All-America Teams". Washington Examiner. 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  59. "Harvard's Wright Selected to Play in the 2012 NABC Division I All-Star Game". IvyLeagueSports.com. 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  60. "Reese’s College All-Star Game Recap". SLAM Magazine. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
  61. "Shurna to play for Hawks in summer league". ESPN. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  62. Beck, Howard (2012-09-10). "Knicks Add Shooting Forward". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  63. Lawrence, Mitch (2012-10-28). "NY Knicks Carmelo Anthony says he won't dominate the ball even with Amar'e Stoudemire out". Daily News. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  64. Arnal, Olivier (2012-12-02). "Vincent Collet : " Un match un peu irrationnel "". L'Alsace (in French). Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  65. Frey, Jean-Claude. "Vincent Collet après l’exploit à Chalon: "Il faut garder les pieds sur terre…"". SIGBasket.fr (in French). Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  66. Gardner, Charles F. (2013-07-03). "Bucks set their sights on O.J. Mayo". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  67. "El FIATC Joventut Contracta el Jugador John Shurna". Joventut Badalona (in Spanish). 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  68. Duber, Vinnie (2014-07-11). "John Shurna does Northwestern proud in Raptors summer debut". Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  69. John Shurna signs with Darussafaka Dogus
  70. "Valencia adds big men Hamilton, Shurna". Eurocupbasketball.com. July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.

External links

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