Northwestern University Athletics
Alumni Update: Wildcats Enjoy Solid Professional Seasons
7/5/2016 4:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Alums of the Northwestern men's basketball program recently completed successful professional seasons, both domestically and abroad.
Headlining the performers was Michael "Juice" Thompson (2008-11) who competed for Pau Lacq-Orthez in LNB Pro A, the top basketball league in France. Playing in his fifth professional season, the point guard led the league in scoring in with an average of 17.9 points per game to go along with 5.1 assists per contest. Thompson was named to the All-Star Game and led Pau Lacq-Orthez to the playoffs and where he averaged 21 points in two games. Northwestern's all-time leader in consecutive free throws made (37), Thompson shot 89.9 percent from the charity stripe as well as 38.4 percent from 3-point range. He has signed on to play for Besiktas in Istanbul, Turkey, next season.
Drew Crawford (2010-14) enjoyed a prosperous second season as a pro while playing for Bnei Hertzeliyya in Israel's Ligat HaAl (Israeli Basketball Premier League). He led his team and ranked in the top 10 in the league in scoring, averaging 15.8 points per contest. Crawford also ranked second on the squad with his average of 5.3 rebounds per game and earned a selection to the league's All-Star Game. He is set to play for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas beginning later this week.
The all-time leading scorer at Northwestern, John Shurna (2009-12) spent his fourth pro season competing for Valencia Basketball Club in Liga ACB, the highest league in Spain. Valencia enjoyed a long 28-game winning streak to open its season, prompting Shurna to gain notoriety for his rather *impressive* beard that he didn't shave until the team finally lost a game. Shurna was playing his best ball at the end of the season before his playoff run was cut short in the semifinal round when he suffered a broken arm against Real Madrid. Always known for his outstanding outside shooting, Shurna ranked among the league leaders with a .448 3-point field goal percentage to go along with an average of 6.6 points per game.
Closer to home, Reggie Hearn (2010-13) participated in his third professional season as he played for the Reno Bighorns in the NBA D-League. Hearn enjoyed a terrific year, averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 44.2 percent from behind the arc. The 3-point percentage ranked fourth best in the league and helped earn Hearn a spot in the 3-point shootout in conjunction with the league All-Star Game.
Playing in his first season professionally, JerShon Cobb (2011-15) competed for Condores Cundinamarca in Colombia following a stint with the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League. Cobb appeared in eight games in Canton, averaging 4.6 points per contest before moving on to play 20 games for Condores Cundinamarca. In Colombia, Cobb averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44 percent from the field.
Headlining the performers was Michael "Juice" Thompson (2008-11) who competed for Pau Lacq-Orthez in LNB Pro A, the top basketball league in France. Playing in his fifth professional season, the point guard led the league in scoring in with an average of 17.9 points per game to go along with 5.1 assists per contest. Thompson was named to the All-Star Game and led Pau Lacq-Orthez to the playoffs and where he averaged 21 points in two games. Northwestern's all-time leader in consecutive free throws made (37), Thompson shot 89.9 percent from the charity stripe as well as 38.4 percent from 3-point range. He has signed on to play for Besiktas in Istanbul, Turkey, next season.
Drew Crawford (2010-14) enjoyed a prosperous second season as a pro while playing for Bnei Hertzeliyya in Israel's Ligat HaAl (Israeli Basketball Premier League). He led his team and ranked in the top 10 in the league in scoring, averaging 15.8 points per contest. Crawford also ranked second on the squad with his average of 5.3 rebounds per game and earned a selection to the league's All-Star Game. He is set to play for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas beginning later this week.
The all-time leading scorer at Northwestern, John Shurna (2009-12) spent his fourth pro season competing for Valencia Basketball Club in Liga ACB, the highest league in Spain. Valencia enjoyed a long 28-game winning streak to open its season, prompting Shurna to gain notoriety for his rather *impressive* beard that he didn't shave until the team finally lost a game. Shurna was playing his best ball at the end of the season before his playoff run was cut short in the semifinal round when he suffered a broken arm against Real Madrid. Always known for his outstanding outside shooting, Shurna ranked among the league leaders with a .448 3-point field goal percentage to go along with an average of 6.6 points per game.
Closer to home, Reggie Hearn (2010-13) participated in his third professional season as he played for the Reno Bighorns in the NBA D-League. Hearn enjoyed a terrific year, averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 44.2 percent from behind the arc. The 3-point percentage ranked fourth best in the league and helped earn Hearn a spot in the 3-point shootout in conjunction with the league All-Star Game.
Playing in his first season professionally, JerShon Cobb (2011-15) competed for Condores Cundinamarca in Colombia following a stint with the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League. Cobb appeared in eight games in Canton, averaging 4.6 points per contest before moving on to play 20 games for Condores Cundinamarca. In Colombia, Cobb averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44 percent from the field.
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