Early Days
Ryan Turell is the first Orthodox Jewish player selected in the G League Draft. In Ryan’s early childhood he grew up in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Valley Village and is the youngest of three siblings. His family grew up with two focuses, basketball and Judaism. His father played college basketball for UC Santa Barbara. Ryan’s father would eventually embrace Orthodox Judaism in his late twenties, he had been raised as a Reform Jew.
Not only being devoted to their religion and way of life, the Turell family was devoted to basketball as well. So much so that Ryan’s father hired dribbling and shooting coaches when Ryan and his brother were in kindergarten. Ryan’s older brother, Jack, went on to play at Yeshiva University, an NCAA Division III school. Ryan began playing organized basketball in the first grade.
Turell had a chance to play on the varsity basketball team when the competition really intensified. He attended Valley Torah High School, a Jewish school with a student body of 135. Not only that, but he also played for Earl Watson Elite, a premier AAU team. During his time at Valley Torah, Turell averaged 25.3 points per game as a junior and 34.2 points per game as a senior. With his performances, Ryan received a McDonald’s All-American Game nomination and was the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV Player of the year and First Team Division IV.
College Career
Ryan would choose the same route his older brother did in choosing to attend Yeshiva University to be a student-athlete. His goal was to keep Judaism close to him while playing basketball at a high level and in hopes of bringing a National Title to Yeshiva.
In just his freshman year, Turell averaged 20.2 points per game and received several accolades for his performance. As a sophomore, he averaged 23.9 points per game and again would receive several accolades. As a junior, his season was cut to just seven games. His senior year would be his best yet, averaging 27.1 points per game and only adding to his accolades. In quite possibly the most impressive feat of his time at Yeshiva would be the fact that he was part of one of the longest winning streaks in NCAA Division III men’s college basketball history.
At the 68th annual Portsmouth Invitational, the oldest pre-draft tournament, Ryan was invited to compete against Division I competition. Turell excelled in putting up 21 points and added 5 rebounds in the second game. He helped his team win the tournament championship by tallying 14 points.
Dreaming With Eyes Wide Open
Even upon all the success that he had at Yeshiva, Turell had many Division I programs trying to get him to come to their school.
It was just a couple of years ago when Ryan set his basketball goal at a pro career in Israel. This was a practical dream for any DIII player as Teshiva University was more known for training religious leaders than jump-shooters. With more and more attention brought to his games, his goal became even bigger—to become the first Orthodox Jewish player in the NBA.
NBA teams began reaching out, and he knew he could make his dream a reality.
Not Losing Sight of his Beliefs
Even gaining attention for his basketball game throughout the years, Ryan has never lost sight of himself. When at Yeshiva on a night of a highly ranked game, his team fell just short so much so that it left his head coach Elliot Steinmetz feeling down. During this weekend was Shabbat, the Jewish Day of Rest. Shabbat happens each week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. During this time, Jewish people remember the story of creation from the Torah, where God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. There is also no technology during Shabbat. Ryan took it upon himself to ensure that others weren’t defeated by just a basketball loss. This is Ryan Turell; it’s who he is.
Following faith can be even harder at a G League level. For example, Yeshiva never practiced or had a game during Shabbat. In the G League, it’s not the same schedule. The use of vehicles is forbidden on Shabbat as well.
Turell has been faced with odds before, odds that were even much bigger. Suffering an injury right before the NBA draft combine, Turell didn’t let it get him down. Instead, he knew there would have to be a different route, and that route started in the G League. Swayed by nothing and keeping his faith, Turell has been known as a “leader” and “role model” throughout many stages of his life. This is Ryan Turell.
Today
Just a short week ago, Ryan and two other players met with students from four Jewish schools in the Detroit area to light the first candle on the menorah. He had the help of those individuals in saying the traditional Hanukkah blessings and singing Me’oz Tzur while lighting the first candle.
In a recent game, teammates were surprised when Turell wouldn’t be going back with them shortly after. Shabbat had begun, and he couldn’t use his phone or any sort of electronics or cook, get in a car, or, in this case, board a bus to ride back with the team to the Motor City.
Late November, in a quiet Cruise locker room on the road at Cleveland after a tough opening night loss, that loss wasn’t the conversation being had. Instead, Ryan was answering questions from teammates about his religion. Turell has helped educate those teammates in his beliefs for much of the season. It’s who he is, and he hasn’t lost sight of himself.
Ryan has relished opportunities where he gets to embrace who he is. So he says goodbye to his teammates and that he’ll see them soon after that game. It is Shabbat, and he won’t let any obstacles get in the way. Turell would think back to the map he memorized, given from the teams director of operations, he turns and begins the over-mile walk back to his hotel.
