Ryan Turell , a 22-year-old, 6-foot-7-inch guard for Yeshiva University’s basketball team, was named this year’s Division III player of the year. That was due to his impressive 59% shooting percentage, including a 47% mark from three-point range (the NBA three-point average usually hovers around 35%). He also helped his team climb to the No. 1 ranking in the country for a time. There is speculation that Turell could become the first Orthodox Jew playing in the NBA.
Quote: “Turell has embraced that pitch with zeal: ‘We’re serious. Jews can play basketball. I made a decision to really be a part of something special, to be a Jewish hero and to create the dream — a basketball culture for Jews — and make this program [Yeshiva University basketball], which had been seen as a joke, a high-major one. Coach’s goal when he recruited me was to win a national title.’ ”
Sources: Introduction from The Times of Israel, quotation from The Los Angeles Times
Learn more about Yeshiva University from Wikipedia. ► ADD
Read “Next ‘Jewish Jordan’? Can L.A.’s Ryan Turell be the first Orthodox Jewish NBA player?” ►
Read “First Orthodox Jewish player enters 2022 NBA draft” ►
Watch “I Want to Be a Jewish Hero” [11:27]. ►
Photo: New York Daily News
We welcome your comments. Click here..
Amazing Jews
In Celebration of the Jewish People
