Northwestern University Athletics
Shurna Invited to USA Basketball U19 Team Training Camp
5/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 27, 2009
2009 USA Basketball U19 Trials Roster (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern University freshman forward John Shurna (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) is among the 17 individuals who have earned an invitation to attend the 2009 USA U19 National Team Trials, held June 16-18 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The athletes, born on or after Jan. 1, 1990, will compete for one of 12 roster spots on the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team. The trials invitations were extended by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by NCAA representative and Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim.
Training camp for the selected finalists will begin June 19, with the 12-member USA roster being announced prior to the teams' departure for Auckland, New Zealand on June 25. This year's U19 World Championships are being held July 2-12.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for John to represent his country," Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody said. "He's an excellent candidate for the team because of his versatility as both a terrific long-range shooter as well as someone who can slash to the basket. He's a tough matchup for defenders because of that and it makes him a perfect fit for the international game."
Included in the roster are 15 student-athletes who recently completed their freshman year at a NCAA Division I school and two who finished their high school campaigns this year. Shurna joins Minnesota freshman center Ralph Sampson III as the lone invitees from Big Ten Conference institutions.
During his freshman campaign with the Wildcats, Shurna started all 31 contests while helping the team at a 17-14 record and a berth in the National Invitation Tournament. He ranked fourth on the squad with averages of 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest and was second with a .466 field goal percentage.
University of Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon is serving as the head coach of the team while Purdue's Matt Painter and Southern Illinois' Chris Lowery are set to be the assistant coaches.
