14 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 

that it’s cleared by the NCAA is if they 
play a non-college team. That’s where 
teams like Athletes for Israel, made up 
of players from various sources, play 
an important role. It allowed Turell to 
face Division I powerhouse schools, like 
Arizona and Kansas State.
Turell scored 32 points against KSU — 
a team that was just a few minutes away 
from a Final Four bid last year — and 
30 points against Arizona, which was 
recently ranked fourth in the nation. 
The Cruise were preparing for their 
season on Oct. 7. Turell said several of his 
teammates reached out to him about the 
horrible tragedies that took place that day.
“It’s amazing to be able to educate and 
share things that generally [may not have 
been] understood,” Turell said. “I have 
cousins who live in Israel. This has taken 
a toll mentally on pretty much everyone 
in Israel.”
Turell said he hasn’t experienced any 
in-person antisemitism in the G-League, 
but he’s used to seeing it online. 
“I try to ignore it and use it as 
motivation,” Turell said.
Amidst the antisemitism, 
Turell said it’s inspiring 
to see fans show up to 
his games with Israeli 
flags, as some fans did 
in Frisco.
“I’m a big 
supporter of Israel,” 
Turell said. “It is a 
scary time right now 
to be outright and 
open about it. To see 
the Jewish community 
this proud and this 
locked in together is 
really amazing. And it 
makes me proud to be 
Jewish and to have a platform 
to fight antisemitism.”
Turell would like to make Aliyah 
and play professionally in Israel at some 
point during his basketball career.

MAKING THE LEAP FROM 
D-III TO THE G-LEAGUE 
It’s a bit ironic that Turell plays for the 
Pistons’ affiliate. Turell, who turned 25 
years old on Feb. 3, remembers being 5 
years old when Richard “Rip” Hamilton 

“I’M A BIG 
SUPPORTER OF 
ISRAEL ... AND IT 
MAKES ME PROUD 
TO BE JEWISH 
AND HAVE A 
PLATFORM TO FIGHT 
ANTISEMITISM.”

— RYAN TURELL

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

Serving the Jewish Community for over 30 years!

continued on page 16
14 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 

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