Kenny Sailors is the man who invented the modern jump shot. But his contributions to this world go well beyond the game of basketball.

Debbie Sorensen met Kenny long after he was a basketball star. She first knew him as a neighbor in Alaska in the 1970s, and Debbie and her husband quickly became good friends with Kenny and his wife.

Sailors passed away at the age of 95 in 2016, but his story lives on thanks to Sorensen. Her new book “Beyond The Jump Shot: The Elevated Life of Kenny Sailors” will make sure of that.

The book is the first by Sorensen, a Butte resident who grew up in Belt, a small town 22 miles east of Great Falls. It is a book about a man who was an inspiration to others his entire life. One person particularly inspired by Kenny was Sorensen.

In her book, you will learn about him first putting the jump shot to use, and you will learn about him starting girls’ basketball in Alaska later in life. You will learn about the deep faith that drove Kenny to greatness.

Debbie’s book is a story of basketball and life that will elevate and inspire its readers to believe and try something different. The book was ranked No. 1 on Amazon in the youth and young adult basketball book category on its recent release.

Debbie will be holding a signing this Saturday from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at Second Edition Books, 112 South Montana St. in Butte.

Today’s podcast with Debbie is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat.