John Shurna

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.

John William Shurna (born April 30, 1990) is an American–Lithuanian professional basketball player for Gran Canaria of the Spanish Liga ACB.

Shurna was a 2007 and 2008 Chicago Tribune All-State boys basketball team special mention selection.

As a junior, in March 2007, he led Glenbard West High School to the Class AA supersectional for the first time since 1938, 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.

He committed to Northwestern University on May 13, 2007, but he did not sign his National Letter of Intent until November 14.

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 high school, he was the 2008 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A Slam Dunk Champion.

In addition, he won the 2008 IHSA 4A slam dunk championship at the state tournament, but finished second to Marland Johnson by a point in a contest of the winners of the four classes.

As a senior, he finished 8th in the Illinois Mr. Basketball voting.

Although ESPN.com ranked Shurna as the 53rd best high school basketball power forward in the national class of 2008, he was not among the ranked players by state or position according to either Rivals.com or Scout.com.

As a true freshman, he started all 31 games for the 2008–09 Northwestern Wildcats.

He was a member of the gold-medal-winning USA Basketball team at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

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).

The USA team earned the gold medal.

He played forward for the 2009–10 Northwestern Wildcats and led the team in scoring and rebounding.

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.

He was twice named Big Ten men's basketball player of the week during the season.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On December 20, in week 6 of the season, Shurna repeated as conference player of the week.

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.

Sports Illustrated named him as one of the ten best players in the Big Ten Conference.

Shurna submitted the paperwork to declare for the 2011 NBA draft following the season, though he did not hire an agent.

He withdrew his name prior to the May 8 deadline and chose to return for his senior year.

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 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.