Orthodox basketball star Ryan Turell signs with top Israeli league

American Orthodox Jewish basketball player Ryan Turell has signed a contract with the Israeli basketball team Ironi Ness Ziona, which plays in the country’s top division, the Basketball Premier League.

Turell made history as the first Orthodox Jew to play in the NBA’s minor G League in 2022, leading his college team at New York’s Yeshiva University to a record 50 consecutive victories while wearing a yarmulke atop his head with blond curls the entire time.

The 6-foot-1 forward, who was the top scorer in his college basketball division in his senior year at Yeshiva University, is now making his professional debut in Israel.

Ironi Ness Ziona, a team in central Israel south of Tel Aviv, announced Tuesday that Turell, 25, has been signed for the 2024-25 season. In a team press release, Ness Ziona coach Amit Sherf said, “I am very pleased that Ryan has signed with our team. I am confident that his basketball intelligence will help him quickly adapt to the European game. He will provide us with shooting and athleticism at the guard/forward positions, and he will be an important part of our strong and diverse Israeli core this season.”

During his four seasons at Yeshiva, Turell averaged 24.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, with a three-point percentage of 44.9.

Turell averaged 27.1 points per game in his final season and was named D3 National Player of the Year.

Following his success at Yeshiva, Turell played two seasons for the Motor City Cruise, a team affiliated with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 4.4 points per game and a strong .355 three-point percentage. Turell played his best and final game for the Cruise on March 23, recording 34 points and six rebounds.

While he hasn’t given up on his goal of becoming the first Orthodox Jew to play in the NBA, Turell is pursuing another dream by playing basketball in Israel.

“I am very excited and honored to be a part of Ironi Ness Ziona, and can’t wait to start playing,” he said in the team’s press release.

Ness Ziona finished the 2023–24 regular season with a losing record, but reached the playoffs, where the team reached the quarterfinals. The 2024–25 season begins in October.