Eric Montross, who played eight NBA seasons after starring at North Carolina, has died at age 52, reports Louis Fernandez of WRAL Sports.
Montross’s family announced his passing this morning, stating they are “grateful for the tremendous support and the truly overwhelming love expressed by so many people as he battled with his signature determination and grace.” Montross began treatments for cancer in March.
A seven-foot center, Montross was selected by the Celtics with the ninth overall pick in the 1994 draft. He was a second-team All-Rookie selection after averaging 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his first season, but was only in Boston for two years before being traded to Dallas. He also spent time with the Nets, Sixers, Pistons and Raptors before his NBA career ended after the 2001/02 season.
Montross played for the Tar Heels from 1990-94 under Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith. He was the starting center on the 1993 NCAA championship team and earned first-team All-ACC and Final Four all-tournament recognition.
He worked 18 seasons as an analyst for the Tar Heel Sports Network before stepping away earlier this year.
“Eric was a great player and accomplished student,” Carolina Athletics said in an official statement, “but the impacts he made on our community went way beyond the basketball court. He was a man of faith, a tremendous father, husband and son, and one of the most recognizable ambassadors of the University and Chapel Hill.”
We at Hoops Rumors offer our deepest condolences to Montross’ family and friends.
Another tough loss for the state of Indiana. He was an absolute stud at Lawrence North High School before deciding to play for North Carolina instead of Bobby Knight and the Hoosiers.
Bobby Knight, George McGinnis and now Eric Montross.
Had not heard about McGinnis’s death yet.
Rest in Peace. A good man with a greater legacy.
He was really young. I was a little kid, when he was an enforcer in the NBA Live videogames. Then, in my late teens, while reading about 90s players lives, I found out he was a talented, skilled and winning center, a NCAA great player in a hystoric program.
I’m saddened. RIP Eric, my condolences from Mar del Plata, Argentina.
Lawrence North has long been a top high school program in the state of Indiana. Same school that produced Greg Oden and Mike Conley.
Who can forget that epic 1993 NCAA Championship Game between UNC and Michigan? Montross facing off against Chris Webber and Juwan Howard.
First thing I thought of too, he was a big part of a golden age of college ball. RIP Eric
Eric coached me at the Paul Webb skills clinics of
Tidewater Virginia in the 90s.
Humble kind giant with wise seriousness
And a great box a la dolph lundgren.
RIP
Cause ? Heart?
Cancer, it’s mentioned in the second paragraph. Awful way to go.
Unfortunately, a lot of great former players passed in the last couple months. Terry Dischinger, Bingo Smith, Walter Davis, Johnny Green, the aforementioned George McGinnis, they all died within the past two months.
Montross’ passing comes way too early, and sadly he is not the only former NBA player to die this year while only in his fifties… Felton Spencer, who died in March at the age of 55, was a contemporary of his, former Suns GM and former player Lance Blanks was also only 56 when he died in May.
And Dedric Willoughby and Brandon Hunter, both former fringe NBA players, who died in July and September respectively, were only in their forties, at 49 and 42 years old…
May they all rest in peace.
RIP Eric Montross
52 is young, cancer sucks.