Dyed-in-the-wool "the rise ball rises" believers need to read the section about the Rise ball. Notice that when the release angle or trajectory is upward enough, the ball will arrive at the batter/plate higher than the release point due to the upward trajectory. BUT - notice the graphed illustration - which shows REGARDLESS of the trajectory, the Magnus Effect (from backspin) is still not enough to make it rise on it's own. ANY pitch will "rise" if you throw it at enough upward angle!
Bottom line - the backspin keeps the ball from dropping as much as it would have with no or little spin. Pitches with hard backspin (including backhand changeups) just don't drop as fast, but they STILL drop. There... that horse is DEAD!
Realistically, EVERY kid should read this study... especially pitchers. Understanding ball movement and how it's accomplished should be high on the list of pitcher's training.