Northwestern University Athletics
Fruendt, Shurna Cap Stellar Prep Careers
3/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 19, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern men's basketball recruits Nick Fruendt (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) and John Shurna (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) recently put a wrap on their respective stellar high school basketball careers. Both individuals will join the Wildcats for the 2008-09 season.
Fruendt, a 6-5 guard/forward, was honored as an Associated Press 4A first-team all-state selection after averaging 19.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game during his senior season. He helped the Bulldogs to their third Western Sun Conference title during his prep career and finished as the second-leading scorer in school history with 1,849 points.
Despite missing eight games this season due to illness, Fruendt was also a 4A first-team all-state pick of the Chicago Sun-Times, was named the Geneva Republican's player of the year for the third time and was the captain of the Daily Herald's Tri-Cities all-area team.
Perhaps his most memorable game of the season came in an overtime contest with two-time defending state champion Simeon, as Fruendt scored 29 points in the matchup.
A 6-8 forward, Shurna set Glenbard West records with averages of 22.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in his senior campaign. He guided his young Hilltoppers team to a pair of upset wins in the state playoffs, as it topped higher-seeded Wheaton North (29 points and a school-record 22 rebounds) and Naperville Central. In his final prep game, Shurna posted 33 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots against Bartlett.
He was named a 4A second-team all-state pick of the Associated Press, a first-team Class 3A/4A pick of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the captain of the Daily Herald DuPage County all-area squad.
Rated as the No. 9 class of 2008 prospect in the state of Illinois by Chicagohoops.com, Shurna won the 4A slam dunk title at the state tournament and placed second overall by just one point.
Both Fruendt and Shurna signed National Letters of Intent in November 2007 to attend Northwestern.
