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Ryan Turell
Ryan Turell
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Ryan K. Turell (born February 3, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Turell played college basketball for Yeshiva University in the Skyline Conference. As a senior in 2021–22, he was the highest scorer across all levels of college basketball with 27.1 points per game and was named NABC DIII National Player of the Year, Skyline Conference Player of the Year, and D3hoops.com Region 3 Player of the Year. He led Yeshiva University to one of the longest winning streaks in NCAA Division III men's college basketball history.

Key Information

Turell was selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA G League draft by the Motor City Cruise, becoming the first Orthodox Jew selected in the G League draft.

Early and personal life

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Turell was born in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Valley Village, the youngest of three children of Brad and Laurel Turell (two sons and a daughter). According to a 2021 ESPN story, the Turell children "grew up in a household with twin focuses: basketball and Judaism". As a child, his father Brad had played basketball against future NBA player Kiki VanDeWeghe, in college he had played basketball as a guard at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and as an adult he had performed public relations work for VanDeWeghe.[1] The elder Turells' later choice for their children's education had its roots in the journeys both took to Orthodox Judaism. Brad, who had been raised as a Reform Jew, began studying with an Orthodox rabbi in his late twenties, at the time intending only to learn more about Judaism, but he eventually embraced Orthodox Judaism. Laurel, the daughter of Southern Baptist evangelical singers, was dating Brad at the time. After she met Brad's teacher, she eventually chose to convert to Judaism, and became Orthodox at the same time as Brad.[2]

Brad hired dribbling and shooting coaches for both his sons when Ryan was in kindergarten. The older son, Jack, went on to play basketball at Yeshiva University, an NCAA Division III school.[2]

Ryan is a religious Orthodox Jew, keeps kosher, observes the Jewish Sabbath, and wears a yarmulke on his head—even while playing basketball.[1][3] Turell said that if he were to play in the NBA he would play on the Sabbath, but would walk to games and practices scheduled for the Sabbath.[3] He heard antisemitic slurs on the basketball court while playing both in high school and in college. His goal is to play in the NBA, and eventually to play in Israel. He practices from the NBA three-point line, shooting daily until he sinks at least 300 three-point shots.[1]

High school career

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Turell attended and played as a shooting guard on the varsity basketball team at Valley Torah High School, a Jewish school with a student body of 135.[4][1][5] He also played for Earl Watson Elite, a premier Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team.[1] Playing for the high school, as a junior in 2016-17 he averaged 25.3 points per game, and as a senior in 2017-18 he averaged 34.3 points per game.[6] In 2018, he received a McDonald's All-American Game nomination, and was California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division IV State Player of the Year and First Team Division IV.[5][7]

Turell received several offers from NCAA Division I schools. However, late in his senior year of high school, by which time the family was living in another Los Angeles neighborhood, Sherman Oaks, Ryan surprised both of his parents when he told them that he would attend his brother's alma mater. Brad recalled, "I said, 'Why in the world would you want to go to Yeshiva?' And Ryan said, 'Why in the world did you send me to Valley Torah High School?'" In the same ESPN story, when Ryan heard his father's recalling of the incident, he added, "And Emek", referring to Emek Hebrew Academy, the Jewish day school he attended before Valley Torah.[2]

College career

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In 2018, Turell began playing college basketball on the Yeshiva University Maccabees team. Yeshiva University is a small Jewish university in Washington Heights in New York City, with about 2,600 undergrads.[1] Some nicknamed him "the Jewish Larry Bird."[1] He led Yeshiva University to one of the longest winning streaks in NCAA Division III men's college basketball history, a 50-game streak that was broken in December 2021.[1][8]

In 2018–19, as a freshman, Turell averaged 20.2 points (tops in the Skyline Conference), 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.[9] He shot .539 from the field (3rd in the conference), .421 from three-point range, and .806 from the line (4th).[9] He was named Skyline Conference Freshman of the Year, Skyline Conference All-First Team, D3hoops.com Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year, and Jewish Sports Review Second Team All-American.[9][10]

In 2019–20, as a sophomore, he averaged 23.9 points (tops in the conference), 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.8 steals per game.[9][10] Turell shot .636 from the field (leading the conference), .462 from three-point range, and .795 from the line.[9][10] He was named Skyline Conference Player of the Year, Skyline Conference All-First Team, D3hoops.com Atlantic Region Player of the Year, D3hoops.com All-America First Team, D3hoops.com All-Atlantic First Team, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Atlantic First Team, and NABC DIII All-America Second Team, and Jewish Sports Review First Team All-American.[9][10]

In 2020–21, as a junior, in a season limited to seven games by the COVID-19 pandemic, Turell averaged 26.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.[9] Turell shot .512 from the field, .421 from three-point range, and .773 from the line.[9] He was D3hoops.com All-Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year, D3hoops.com All-America First Team, and a Basketball Times Preseason All-American.[10]

In 2021–22, as a senior, Turell averaged 27.1 points (leading all levels of college basketball), 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.[9][10] He shot .587 from the field, .468 from three-point range, and .761 from the line.[9] He was named NABC DIII National Player of the Year, NABC DIII All-America First Team, NABC All-District Atlantic First Team, NABC District 3 First Team, Skyline Conference Player of the Year for the second season in a row, and Skyline Conference All-First Team for the third time in his career, D3hoops.com Region 3 Player of the Year, and D3hoops.com All-America First Team for the third straight year.[9][10]

Professional career

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Motor City Cruise (2022–2024)

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In the 2022 NBA G League draft, the Motor City Cruise, the affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, selected Turell with the 27th pick in the First Round. Turell became the first Orthodox Jew selected in the G League draft.[11]

In Turell's G-League debut during the regular season on December 27, 2022, he recorded a season-high 21 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal as the Cruise fell 108 - 115 to the Capital City Go-Go.[12] In his first season with the Cruise, Turell played in 31 of the team's 32 regular season games and averaged 4.0 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game. The Cruise would miss the playoffs that year with a 17 - 15 record.

On October 21, 2023, Turell signed with the Detroit Pistons,[13] but was waived the same day.[14] He rejoined the Cruise for the 2023–24 season.[15]

For his second season with the Cruise, Turell played in less games total (23 compared to 31 in his first season) and averaged less minutes per game (11.9 down from 14.2) while averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds. In Turell's final game of the 2023 - 2024 season on March 29, 2024, he recorded a career-high 34 points while also grabbing 6 rebounds as the Cruise were defeated by the Raptors 905 104 - 109.[16] The Cruise would miss the playoffs again with a 16 - 18 record.

Ironi Ness Ziona (2024–2025)

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On July 2, 2024, Turell signed with Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[17]

Hapoel Haifa B.C (2025–present)

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On November 17, 2025, Turell signed with Hapoel Haifa B.C. of the Israeli Lega Leumit.[18]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Ryan Turell (born February 3, 1999) is an American-Israeli professional player of Haredi Jewish background who plays as a for Ironi in the . At 6 feet 7 inches tall, he is noted for his scoring prowess and commitment to Orthodox observance, including wearing a during games. Turell rose to prominence at , a Division III program, where he declined multiple scholarship offers to prioritize religious observance such as . During his senior season in 2021–22, he led all levels of in scoring with 27.1 , earned the NABC Division III National Player of the Year award, and received the Travis Grant Award for top scorer, while helping achieve a 50-game winning streak and the No. 1 national ranking. He finished as 's all-time leading scorer with 2,158 points. Following graduation, Turell signed with the ' NBA G League affiliate, the , becoming the first Orthodox Jewish player to compete in while openly practicing his . After stints in the G League, he transitioned to professional play in , where he has continued to perform, including scoring a career-high 34 points in a G League game against the Raptors 905.

Early life and background

Family and upbringing

Ryan Turell was born in Valley Village, a neighborhood in , , as the youngest of three children to parents Brad and Laurel Turell. His father, Brad, works as a communications executive at a Los Angeles talent agency, while his mother, Laurel, has been actively involved in family support during his career, including arranging logistics for events like seders. Turell's parents converted to before his birth; his father was born Jewish but raised in the tradition, a more liberal denomination, prior to the family's adoption of stricter Orthodox observance. This upbringing instilled a strong religious commitment from an early age, shaping his daily life around observance and kosher dietary laws, even as he pursued basketball intensely. The Turell household emphasized both and , with family members frequently attending his games and traveling from to support his professional debut in the G League. As a child, Turell initially resisted wearing a during informal pickup games but grew to embrace his Orthodox identity publicly, reflecting the gradual integration of faith and athletics fostered by his parents.

Religious commitment and its influence on career choices

Ryan Turell, raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in , has centered his basketball pursuits on adherence to halachic standards, including observance, kosher dietary laws, and wearing a during games. His commitment manifested early in forgoing Division I scholarship offers from secular universities to enroll at in 2018, an Orthodox institution where he could fulfill daily and requirements alongside athletics. This decision, driven by a desire to maintain religious immersion unavailable at higher-division programs with demanding travel and scheduling, limited his national exposure but enabled Yeshiva's 2021-2022 season record of 27 wins and one loss, including a championship. Turell's Sabbath practices—no driving, electronics use, or non-essential labor—shaped his professional trajectory by necessitating accommodations from teams. He resolved to participate in Shabbat games if venues were walkable from his residence, citing rabbinic allowances for physical exertion in permissible contexts, which permitted his 2022 G League draft selection by the as the 27th overall pick—the first for an Orthodox Jew. The Pistons organization, affiliates of the Cruise, supported his observance by arranging walkable logistics for Friday night and Saturday contests during his 2022-2024 tenure, where he averaged 14.6 points per game in 2022-2023 despite injury limitations. These constraints, including missed scouting due to holiday absences, contributed to Turell going undrafted in the and pursuing overseas options post-G League. In July 2024, he signed a one-year contract with Ironi Ness Ziona of the , citing the fulfillment of a longstanding dream to compete in the , where league schedules often align with religious calendars and cultural norms facilitate observance without extensive negotiation. This transition underscores how Turell's faith prioritized environments enabling both elite competition and uncompromised religious life over potential NBA pathways requiring fuller scheduling flexibility.

High school career

Achievements at Valley Torah High School

At Valley Torah High School in Valley Village, California, Ryan Turell excelled as a versatile guard, averaging 29.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game across 60 career games. His junior year (2016-17) featured 25.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 8.4 steals (noting the unusually high figure reported), and 2.6 blocks per game in 29 contests. Turell's senior season (2017-18) marked his peak, with averages of 34.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 7.1 steals, and 4.2 blocks over 31 games, leading all high school players in scoring. He recorded a high of 60 points in one game that year. For these performances, Turell earned Division IV State Player of the Year honors, a nomination, and Jewish Hoops America's National Player of the Year award for 2017-18.

College career

Performance and records at Yeshiva University

During his four-year tenure with the from 2018 to 2022, Ryan Turell established himself as the program's most prolific scorer, averaging 24 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game across 90 appearances. His efficiency from the field and ability to generate offense in a Division III context, where Yeshiva competes in the , highlighted his dominance against limited competition, though his raw scoring output drew national attention. In his senior season of 2021–22, Turell led all divisions of NCAA men's basketball in scoring with a 27.1 points per game average, accumulating 786 points over 29 games to set Yeshiva's single-season scoring record. He achieved this while shooting 58.7% from the field and 46.8% from three-point range, recording 30-plus points in nine games, including a program-record 51 points against Purchase College on February 19, 2022. Turell's performance earned him the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III National Player of the Year award on March 17, 2022. Turell concluded his collegiate career as Yeshiva's all-time leading scorer with 2,158 points, surpassing previous benchmarks in a program historically constrained by its small enrollment and religious scheduling limitations. His records underscore a reliance on individual volume scoring, with career totals reflecting consistent high-output games rather than balanced team systems, as evidenced by his top rankings in Yeshiva's historical points ledgers for multiple seasons.

Professional career

G League tenure with Motor City Cruise (2022–2024)

Ryan Turell was selected by the Motor City Cruise, the NBA G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, with the 27th overall pick in the 2022 G League Draft on October 22, 2022. He made his professional debut on November 8, 2022, entering late in a game against the Grand Rapids Gold to applause from the crowd, marking him as the first Orthodox Jewish player in G League history. In the 2022–23 season, Turell appeared in 31 games for the Cruise, averaging 5.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game in 14.2 minutes of play. His season highlight came on December 27, 2022, when he scored a then-career-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting in a loss to the . On October 21, 2023, Turell signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the but was waived the same day, allowing him to rejoin the Cruise for the 2023–24 season. That year, he played in 23 games, averaging 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.9 minutes. Turell achieved a career-high 34 points, along with 6 rebounds, on March 29, 2024, in a loss to the , shooting 63% from the field including five three-pointers. Over his two seasons with the Cruise, Turell totaled 4.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game across 54 appearances.
SeasonGPMPGPPGRPGAPG
2022–233114.25.51.20.5
2023–242311.93.51.70.5

Israeli Premier League with Ironi Ness Ziona (2024–present)

In July 2024, Ryan Turell signed a one-year contract with Ironi Ness Ziona (also known as Ironi Hai Motors Ness Ziona) of the for the 2024–25 season, marking his transition from the to Israel's top professional basketball division. The 6-foot-7 forward, holding dual American-Israeli nationality, joined the team as a scoring option off the bench, bringing his college-era sharpshooting reputation from . Turell appeared in 15 regular-season games for during the 2024–25 campaign, averaging 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 0.9 steals in 15.7 minutes per contest. His shooting efficiency included 42.6% from the field, 41.2% from three-point range, and 61.1% from the free-throw line, with a career-high 16 points scored in a single game against Ironi on an unspecified date in the 2024–25 season. These contributions aligned with 's mid-table positioning in the league, though the team struggled with consistency amid roster changes and injuries common in the competitive . A highlight of Turell's stint came at the Israeli League event, where he won the three-point shooting contest on March 14, 2025, showcasing his perimeter prowess developed during his collegiate dominance. His tenure ended on March 31, 2025, when he departed to join of the National League (second division), seeking expanded playing time after limited minutes in the .

Awards and honors

Collegiate and professional recognitions

Turell's collegiate achievements at culminated in him being named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III National Player of the Year in 2022, after leading all NCAA divisions with 27.1 points per game. He also received the Travis Grant Award as the nation's leading collegiate scorer that season. Additionally, Turell earned Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year in 2022, along with his third All-Skyline First Team selection. He was selected as the All-Met Division III Player of the Year for the second straight season in 2021 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. Turell broke Yeshiva's single-game scoring record with 51 points, season record with 786 points, and career record with 2,158 points, while shooting 58% from the field and 44.9% from three-point range. He was honored as the Outstanding Jewish College Male Athlete of the Year by the Jewish Sports Heritage Association in 2023. In his professional career, Turell was selected by the Motor City Cruise in the 2022 NBA G League Draft, marking a transition from Division III basketball. While with the Cruise from 2022 to 2024, he recorded notable performances including a career-high 34 points in a game, though no league-wide awards were conferred. Upon signing with Ironi Ness Ziona in Israel's Premier League in July 2024, Turell averaged 5.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 15 games before transferring. In March 2025, he won the three-point shooting contest at the Israeli Basketball All-Star event while with Ironi Ness Ziona.

Cultural impact and public persona

Representation as an Orthodox Jewish athlete

Ryan Turell has gained recognition as the first Sabbath-observant Orthodox Jewish player in the , selected by the in October 2022. He consistently wears a during games, visibly affirming his religious identity on the court despite the environment. Turell's career trajectory, from to the G League and subsequently Israel's with Ironi starting in 2024, positions him as a trailblazer for Orthodox in elite , where such observance has historically been rare. His approach to Shabbat observance balances religious commitment with athletic participation; Turell plays games on the Sabbath provided he can walk to the venue, but refrains from prohibited activities such as driving, using electronics, or cooking. This accommodation enabled his G League debut on November 5, 2022, against the Grand Rapids Gold, marking a historic moment for Orthodox representation in professional American basketball. In Israel, the league's scheduling aligns more closely with the Jewish , reducing conflicts and allowing fuller integration of his faith. Turell's public persona emphasizes Jewish pride and resilience, as highlighted in Amazon's 2023 documentary Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey, which focused segments on his identity and challenges. He has been spotlighted by the for in 2025, discussing his journey in embracing faith amid sports pressures. By making in 2024 and competing abroad, Turell exemplifies how Orthodox athletes can pursue professional excellence while prioritizing religious observance, inspiring younger Jewish players to maintain identity in secular arenas.

Commitment to faith amid professional challenges

Turell, an observant Orthodox Jew, upholds restrictions prohibiting driving, electronic use, and certain labors from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall, which complicates professional basketball's demanding schedules and travel. Entering the G League with the in November 2022, he committed to playing games on when feasible by walking to the arena, ensuring compliance with halachic guidelines while prioritizing his athletic aspirations. The organization provided accommodations for his observance, including logistical support for walking to home games and practices, enabling Turell to debut professionally without initial conflicts derailing his participation. He has consistently played wearing a , visibly affirming his faith amid fast-paced contests. However, away games requiring pre-Shabbat travel have occasionally forced absences, as flights or long drives violate observance, representing tangible sacrifices in pursuit of NBA aspirations. Turell has described these trade-offs as worthwhile, emphasizing that forgoing certain opportunities preserves his religious integrity over career expediency. In the with Ironi since 2024, scheduling remains a potential hurdle despite the league's Jewish-majority context, though local proximity often mitigates travel issues compared to North American circuits. Turell's approach—consulting rabbinic guidance on permissible activities like exertion on —reflects a deliberate navigation of modern Orthodox tensions between piety and professional demands.

References

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