Former Bull Jay Williams coming to Naperville

Former Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams is coming to Naperville early next month with "Life is Not an Accident," his deeply personal book about his comeback from an accident that ended his basketball career.

Williams, a former high school All American, National Player of the Year, National Champion at Duke University, and No. 2 overall NBA draft pick with the Bulls, will visit at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave.

Priority numbers to reserve your place in the book-signing line are available with the purchase of the book at Anderson's. For information, visit www.andersonsbookshop.com or call (630) 355-2665.

During Williams' visit to the area, he also is headlining a luncheon event at Chicago's Standard Club at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 3 at 320 S. Plymouth Court. Reservations, $40 each, secure a spot at lunch and the afternoon's program with Williams. A copy of the new book is not included.

Books will be available for sale at the event. Reservations are required and available by calling Anderson's.

Like millions of kids before him, Williams used to pretend he was making the game-winning shot while playing basketball in his backyard in Plainfield, New Jersey. Unlike almost all of those other kids, he kept right on making shots until he became an NCAA champion and two-time national player of the year at Duke and the No. 2 overall NBA draft pick in 2002.

But after just one season with the Chicago Bulls, Williams destroyed his career when he suffered a horrific motorcycle accident. In an instant, the man with as fast a first step as any point guard in history could no longer do anything for himself, including walk.

In "Life Is Not an Accident," Williams shares his story - both heartbreaking and uplifting - of being a young man trying to wrest control of his life from his over-involved parents, from the pleasures and perils of fame and money, and from the near-fatal mistake that threatened to define him.

After a decade spent recovering from his injuries, including the rehabilitations, the comeback attempts and the professional forays into the seedy underside of sports agents, Williams recounts with a rare honesty his hard-fought path to college basketball stardom and the painful lessons he's learned while reconstructing his fractured adulthood.

"Life Is Not an Accident" is also his tribute to the many "angels" who helped him survive, including his mother, his first love, and his legendary Duke basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski.

Now in his 30s and an ESPN college basketball analyst, Williams is happy with the man he has become - and convinced that the crash that almost killed him at 21 was no accident, but a tragedy that taught him how to live.

He is now a motivational speaker, president of the Jay Williams Group, managing partner of the Leverage Agency, and a committed member of a number of charities.

If you go

What: Jay Williams with his book, "Life is Not an Accident"

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3

Where: Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

Cost: Purchase book at Anderson's to reserve a place in the book-signing line

Info: www.andersonsbookshop.com or (630) 355-2665