A Different Ball Game

Yeshiva University basketball star Ryan Turell announced this month that he will enter the NBA draft in June. A Division III standout, Turell was, in his final season, college basketball's leading scorer across all NCAA divisions. If selected, the 6-foot-7 shooting guard will be the NBA's first Orthodox Jewish player. One major obstacle to playing professional sports for Orthodox Jews is how to negotiate Shabbat observance. Turell told ESPN that, if drafted, he "plans on playing on Shabbat and walking to the gym." Turell will not interrupt Shabbat by driving in a car or flying on an airplane.