Northwestern University Athletics
Shurna Named Preseason Candidate for John R. Wooden Award
10/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 4, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern junior forward John Shurna (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list. The list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious honor.
Shurna was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season, pacing the Wildcats with averages of 18.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. His 619 points set a Northwestern single-season record and helped the team to a program-best 20 victories and its second straight appearance in the National Invitation Tournament.
Shurna's scoring average ranked third overall in the Big Ten, while his norm of 20.1 points per game in conference play were one point shy of surpassing Ohio State's Evan Turner for the scoring title. For his efforts, Shurna was named the nation's Most Improved Player by Sporting News.
This summer he competed in Las Vegas as a member of the United States Select Team which helped the USA National Team train for the FIBA World Championships where the squad eventually won the gold medal.
The Big Ten Conference led all conference with 10 individuals being named to the list. Shurna is joined by Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore of Purdue, Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers of Michigan State, Illinois' Demetri McCamey, Ohio State's William Buford, Penn State's Talor Battle and Wisconsin's Jon Leuer.
Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the preseason list. These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for December's Midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March. The National Ballot consists of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round during the NCAA Tournament.
To view the complete list of candidates, please visit www.woodenaward.com.
Shurna and Wildcats host Robert Morris (Ill.) in an exhibition game Nov. 4 before opening the regular season Nov. 12 at Northern Illinois. Northwestern returns four starters and 12 letterwinners from last year's squad.
Deposits for season tickets for the 2010-11 Northwestern men's basketball campaign are currently being accepted. Season tickets and mini-plans go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11 via NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE (888-467-8775).
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