Orthodox basketball star Ryan Turell signed to top Israeli league

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

Turell made history as the first Orthodox Jew to play in the NBA’s minor G League in 2022 and led his college team at Yeshiva University in New York to a record-breaking 50 consecutive victories, all the while wearing a yarmulke atop a head of blonde curls.

Now the 6ft 7in forward, who was the top scorer in his college basketball division during his final year at Yeshiva University, is making his professional debut in Israel.

Ironi Ness Ziona, a team located in central Israel south of Tel Aviv, announced on Tuesday that Turell, 25, has been signed for the 2024/25 season. In a press release from the team, Ness Ziona coach Amit Sherf said: “I am very happy with Ryan signing 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 a key part of our strong and diverse Israeli core this season.”