Vertical Leap

As one of the greatest high school basketball players to ever play in ^New York City, there was no way Bill Rieser wasn't going to make it in the NBA. ^He could do things on the court that no one else could. But after a serious knee ^injury and clashes with his college coach derailed his career, Bill descended into ^a self-destructive lifestyle. He was going to be just another washed-up playground ^legend--until he encountered Christ and became something far more.


Once known ^for his 44-inch leap, Rieser is going higher than he could ever have imagined. So ^if you're looking for something that will get you to that new level of trust and ^closeness with God you're yearning for, this book is your ticket! Bill's infectious ^faith will change the way you view God, His power, His Word, and prayer.



BILL RIESER grew up in East Harlem, New York where he was considered ^a legend on the streets and basketball courts of New York City. His powerful slam ^dunk repertoire earned him the nickname 'White Jesus' and destined him for stardom ^in the NBA. But injuries in college and a lifestyle of excess and anger brought ^him to the brink of personal and professional destruction. Through the incredible, ^unconditional love of his wife, Carolynn and the faithful prayers of her church ^he found and accepted the Lord as his Savior. Bill is the author of Vertical ^Leap, and is currently the Director of Recovery Ministries at Heartland Community ^Church in Rockford, Illinois. He and Carolynn have been married for 25 years and ^live in Rockford. They have one daughter.

One of the greatest high school basketball players to ever play in New ^York City, there was no way Bill Rieser wasn't going to make it in the NBA. He could ^do things on a basketball court no one else could. But after a serious knee injury ^and clashes with his college coach derailed his career, Bill descended into a self-destructive ^lifestyle of drinking, drug abuse, and womanizing. He was going to be just another ^washed-up playground legend--until he encountered Jesus Christ and became something ^far more.

Once known for his 44-inch leap, Rieser is still looking up these ^days and his vertical leap goes higher than he could ever have imagined. So if you're ^looking for something that will get you to that new level of trust and closeness ^with God you're yearning for, this book is your ticket! Bill's infectious faith ^will change the way you view God, His power, His Word, and prayer.


"If you're a fan of the shallow, fawning dreck that is 'typical' Christian ^sportswriting, stay far, far away from this book. This thing is the real deal - ^rough, gritty, honest and full of the glorious redemptive grace of Jesus Christ. ^In honestly sharing what he's been through and put others through, Bill truly gives ^God the glory...and as Pete Axthelm proved in 'The City Game,' there's pretty much ^nothing cooler than streetball in New York City." - Ted Kluck, author of "Facing ^Tyson: Fifteen Fighters, Fifteen Stories"; "Dallas and the Spitfire: An Old Car, ^An Ex-Con, and An Unlikely Friendship"; and "The Reason for Sports" 


 


I ^knew Bill Rieser as "White Jesus" on the Basketball courts of New York City but ^it's our frienship and shared Chrisitan brotherhood are what I'm eternally grateful ^for. His story is real and it will help those you know the key to really having ^a great vertical leap. Keep looking up and God bless!!!


Tim Maloney
Director ^of Basketball Operations, Baylor University

One of the greatest high school basketball players to ever play in New York City, there was no way Bill Rieser wasn't going to make it in the NBA. He could do things on a basketball court no one else could. But after a serious knee injury and clashes with his college coach derailed his career, Bill descended into a self-destructive lifestyle of drinking, drug abuse, and womanizing. He was going to be just another washed-up playground legend--until he encountered Jesus Christ and became something far more.

Once known for his 44-inch leap, Rieser is still looking up these days and his vertical leap goes higher than he could ever have imagined. So if you're looking for something that will get you to that new level of trust and closeness with God you're yearning for, this book is your ticket! Bill's infectious faith will change the way you view God, His power, His Word, and prayer.

-Publisher