As a senior, he repeated as a preseason top 50 watchlist selection for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award.
He was also a Sporting News Preseason All-American (2nd team).
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.
On December 18, he scored 32 points as Northwestern defeated Eastern Illinois.
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.
On February 12, he posted his third 30-point game of the season against Purdue.
With three 30-point games as a senior, he brought his career total to six.
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.
He was selected as a first team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media.
 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.
 Shurna was a first team selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All‐District 7 team on March 14.
Shurna finished the season with a 20.0 point per game average, which led the Big Ten Conference.
He was named an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.
 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.
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.
Shurna had 12 points in the game.
As a senior, he repeated as a preseason top 50 watchlist selection for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award. He was also a Sporting News Preseason All-American (2nd team). 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. On December 18, he scored 32 points as Northwestern defeated Eastern Illinois. 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. On February 12, he posted his third 30-point game of the season against Purdue. With three 30-point games as a senior, he brought his career total to six. 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. He was selected as a first team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media.  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.  Shurna was a first team selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All‐District 7 team on March 14. Shurna finished the season with a 20.0 point per game average, which led the Big Ten Conference. He was named an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.  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. 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. Shurna had 12 points in the game.
John Shurna