KANSAS CITY, MO - In a partnership between the Small College Basketball Foundation, The Kraft Family Foundation, and Yeshiva University Athletics, the Ryan Turell Character & Inspiration Award has been founded.
READ MORE: SCB Announces the Creation of the Ryan Turell Character & Inspiration Award
An award meant to recognize the overcoming of adversity and hardship by a player at the small college level, the honor will be bestowed on an annual basis to a men's basketball player who "handled great challenges with character and class, and ultimately became an inspiration and role model for others."
The award was officially announced on Friday, Nov. 1 at the 2024 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
About the award, Executive Director of Small College Basketball John McCarthy had to say, "We are so honored and excited to launch the Ryan Turell Character & Inspiration Award, as this award has tremendous meaning for Small College Basketball, and beyond. Ryan is such a wonderful role model and inspiration, not just for the Jewish community worldwide, but for people of all backgrounds and faiths. We are grateful to Ryan and the Turell Family for their support of this award, and we fully intend to use the platform of this award as a force for good."
Receiving congratulation from the Yeshiva community as well, Men's Basketball Head Coach Elliott Steinmetz commented, "There is not a more fitting name for an award that represents who Ryan is as a person than the Ryan Turell Character & Inspiration Award. Ryan's makeup as a human being is what parents strive for in developing their kids. His approach, not just to basketball, but to life, diversity and challenge, is inspirational not only to the younger generation, but to those of us who are older and still learning every day how to navigate the world."
A native of Southern California who turned down multiple DI offers to instead follow his faith and attend Yeshiva, Turell carried out a storied career playing for the Maccabees. The former marketing major proved a dominating force every time he touched the court, breaking the program's single game, season and career scoring records, while also leading YU on their miraculous 50-game win streak throughout the 2019-2021 seasons. For his efforts, he garnered a number of accolades, including 2022 NABC DIII National Player of the Year, and the Travis Grant Award, given to the nation's leading collegiate scorer.
Turell offered the following statement regarding the award's founding - "First, I'd like to thank God for allowing me to play the game I love and for putting me in a position to inspire others. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for the foundation they gave me and their endless support and sacrifices throughout my journey.
It is a tremendous honor to have the Small College Basketball Character & Inspiration Award named after me. Small College Basketball has a very special place in my heart as it was not only the home to my college basketball career but laid the foundation for me to reach my goals on and off the court in sports and in life. In choosing Yeshiva University, my goal was to be part of something bigger than basketball—to both create a winning sports culture and to turn a program once underestimated into a national championship contender and inspire Jews and non-Jews alike to set their goals high, be committed to the hard work it takes to excel and great things can happen. This award will spotlight a player who has faced challenges head-on with strength and grace, inspiring others through their actions, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Sports is a great uniter of people, and I am proud that the essence of this award is much bigger than basketball. We hope this award serves as a testament to the impact we can have on others when we stay true to our purpose regardless of who you are, where you come from or who you worship.
Thank you to Small College Basketball, John McCarthy, Robert Kraft and everyone who made this possible. I am forever grateful."
