Freshman

As a true freshman, he started all 31 games for the 2008–09 Northwestern Wildcats.^[12] 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).^[19] The USA team earned the gold medal.^[20]

Sophomore

He played forward for the 2009–10 Northwestern Wildcats and led the team in scoring and rebounding.^[21] 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.^[22][23] He was twice named Big Ten men's basketball player of the week during the season.^[24][25] 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.^[26] 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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.^[29]

Junior

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.^[30][31] 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.^[32] On December 20, in week 6 of the season, Shurna repeated as conference player of the week.^[33] 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.^[34][35] Sports Illustrated named him as one of the ten best players in the Big Ten Conference.^[36]

Shurna submitted the paperwork to declare for the 2011 NBA draft following the season, though he did not hire an agent.^[37] He withdrew his name prior to the May 8 deadline and chose to return for his senior year.^[38][39] He was one of 20 players who tried out to represent USA Basketball at the 2011 Summer Universiade, but did not make the team.^[40]

Senior

As a senior, he repeated as a preseason top 50 watchlist selection for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award.^[41] He was also a Sporting News Preseason All-American (2nd team).^[42] When Shurna scored 37 points on November 17 against LSU it heralded a career-high and tied for the most points scored by a Northwestern player during the 12-year Bill Carmody era.^[43][44][45] On December 18, he scored 32 points as Northwestern defeated Eastern Illinois.^[46] Shurna earned Co-Big Ten Player of the week on February 6 after averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in wins over Nebraska and Illinois on February 2 and 5, respectively.^[47][48][49] On February 12, he posted his third 30-point game of the season against Purdue.^[50] With three 30-point games as a senior, he brought his career total to six.^[51] On February 18 he became Northwestern's all-time leading scorer in a game against Minnesota, passing Billy McKinney's record of 1,900 points (a record since surpassed by Boo Buie in 2024).^[52][53] He was selected as a first team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media.^[54] He was selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to its 10-man 2011–12 Men's All-District V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI) Team.^[55] Shurna was a first team selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All‐District 7 team on March 14.^[56] Shurna finished the season with a 20.0 point per game average, which led the Big Ten Conference.^[57] He was named an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.^[58] He competed in the 2012 State Farm 3-Point Contest, beating Juan Fernandez 21–20 in the final round by making his final seven shots.^[2] Shurna was also selected to participate in the NABC 2012 Reese's Division I All-Star Game at the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament final four.^[59] Shurna had 12 points in the game.^[60]