Former basketball center and University of North Carolina radio analyst Eric Montross has passed away after a battle with cancer.
Montross was diagnosed with the disease in March, and it was announced in October that he would not be part of the team’s radio broadcasts. His family announced that he had passed away while surrounded by loved ones at the age of 52.
Eric Montross previously suited up for head coach Dean Smith and the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1990-94. In 1993, he was named to the first team All-ACC and attained a spot on the John Wooden All-America team in his senior year. Moreover, he was an integral part of the team’s 1993 national championship run, garnering NCAA East Region and Final Four all-tournament honors. For his excellence on the team, the university honored him by raising his No. 00 jersey to the rafters at the Smith Center.
After his college career, Montross played nine seasons in the NBA where he was named to the league’s All-Rookie team as a member of the Boston Celtics. In addition to the Celtics, Montross was a member of the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors during his professional career on the hardwood. He announced his retirement from playing the game in 2003 after dealing with a foot injury.
Montross then returned to UNC to join the Tar Heels Sports Network and worked alongside play-by-play announcer Jones Angell on men’s basketball games. Throughout the 2023-24 season, his position has been filled by a rotation of former UNC players, including Joel Berry II, Pete Chilcutt, Marcus Ginyard, and Tyler Zeller. Along with his media responsibilities, he worked for the Rams Club at the university to help fundraise and co-founded Vaccine Ambassadors, an organization that looks to distribute vaccines worldwide to those in need.
“Carolina Athletics, the Tar Heel basketball family, and the entire University community are profoundly saddened and stunned by the loss of Eric Montross, one of our most beloved former student-athletes, at far too young an age,” the university said in a statement. “Eric was a great player and accomplished student, 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.
“He helped the Rams Club secure scholarships for student-athletes, and as color analyst for the Tar Heel Sports Network, he brought perspective, heart and humor to UNC fans near and far. Eric also became an ardent supporter of the Lineberger Center while in college and remained a leader in the fight against cancer throughout his life.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Laura, his children and entire family, and his colleagues and friends. The number of people who loved Eric and were touched by him is immeasurable.”
