North Carolina

Photos: Remembering UNC basketball great Eric Montross, who has died of cancer

By Scott Sharpe
UNC center Eric Montross cuts down a portion of the nets after the Tar Heels defeated Michigan to win the NCAA championship game in New Orleans in 1993.
UNC center Eric Montross cuts down a portion of the nets after the Tar Heels defeated Michigan to win the NCAA championship game in New Orleans in 1993. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com

Eric Montross died Sunday, Dec. 17, at the age of 52, leaving behind a long career with UNC basketball and the NBA.

He played for head coach Dean Smith from 1990 to 1994, playing for the team that won the national championship in 1993.

He played for the Boston Celtics for nine seasons as a first-round draft pick and returned to Chapel Hill to be an analyst for the Tar Heel Sports Network for 18 seasons.

Here are photos from his career.

North Carolina Tar Heels center Eric Montross (00) looks to pass as Duke Blue Devils center Christian Laettner (32) defends in the Tar Heels 75-73 victory against the Blue Devils at the Dean E. Smith Center. Montross is playing with a cut below his left eye.
North Carolina Tar Heels center Eric Montross (00) looks to pass as Duke Blue Devils center Christian Laettner (32) defends in the Tar Heels 75-73 victory against the Blue Devils at the Dean E. Smith Center. Montross is playing with a cut below his left eye. Bob Donnan USA TODAY Sports
UNC’s Eric Montross shoots over Michigan’s Chris Weber during the 1993 National Championship game in New Orleans.
UNC’s Eric Montross shoots over Michigan’s Chris Weber during the 1993 National Championship game in New Orleans. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC center Eric Montross cuts down a portion of the nets after the Tar Heels defeated Michigan to win the NCAA championship game in New Orleans in 1993.
UNC center Eric Montross cuts down a portion of the nets after the Tar Heels defeated Michigan to win the NCAA championship game in New Orleans in 1993. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC center Eric Montross bites on a piece of the victory nets during postgame ceremonies after the Tar Heels defeated Michigan to win the 1993 NCAA Championship in New Orleans.
UNC center Eric Montross bites on a piece of the victory nets during postgame ceremonies after the Tar Heels defeated Michigan to win the 1993 NCAA Championship in New Orleans. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC center Eric Montross (second from left) clasps hands with guard Donald Williams as they look on in the closing minutes of an NCAA Tournament win over Cincinnati in 1993.
UNC center Eric Montross (second from left) clasps hands with guard Donald Williams as they look on in the closing minutes of an NCAA Tournament win over Cincinnati in 1993. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Hubert Davis (40) on the bench with fellow Tar Heels (from left): Pete Chillcutt (32), Davis, George Lynch (34), Rick Fox (44), Henrik Rodl (5) and Eric Montross (00).
Hubert Davis (40) on the bench with fellow Tar Heels (from left): Pete Chillcutt (32), Davis, George Lynch (34), Rick Fox (44), Henrik Rodl (5) and Eric Montross (00). Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC’s Eric Montross shoots over Kansas defenders in the NCAA semis in1993.
UNC’s Eric Montross shoots over Kansas defenders in the NCAA semis in1993. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC center Eric Montross rips down a rebound against Duke’s Jeff Capel and Cherokee Parks.
UNC center Eric Montross rips down a rebound against Duke’s Jeff Capel and Cherokee Parks. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC center Eric Montross (center) holds ice to his face as forward Brian Reese holds a towel to his during a physical NCAA Tournament game.
UNC center Eric Montross (center) holds ice to his face as forward Brian Reese holds a towel to his during a physical NCAA Tournament game. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC center Eric Montross passes around a Kansas defender in the semis of the Final Four in New Orleans in 1993.
UNC center Eric Montross passes around a Kansas defender in the semis of the Final Four in New Orleans in 1993. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
UNC’s Hubert Davis, right, is consoled by teammate Eric Montross after the Tarheels were defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament at the Hoosier Dome March 30, 1991.
UNC’s Hubert Davis, right, is consoled by teammate Eric Montross after the Tarheels were defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament at the Hoosier Dome March 30, 1991. Jeff Siner jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
2/03/94 1B BOB LEVERONE/Staff CENTER STAGE: North Carolina center Eric Montross (right) and Duke counterpart Cherokee Parks (pictured here from last season) figure to be key factors in tonight’s matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 at Chapel Hill.
2/03/94 1B BOB LEVERONE/Staff CENTER STAGE: North Carolina center Eric Montross (right) and Duke counterpart Cherokee Parks (pictured here from last season) figure to be key factors in tonight’s matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 at Chapel Hill. Bob Leverone File photo
Virginia’s Harold Deane is surrounded by North Carolina’s Eric Montross (left) and Harold Deane during the ACC tournament championship game on Sunday. The Tar Heels beat the Cavs 73-66 and earned a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Virginia’s Harold Deane is surrounded by North Carolina’s Eric Montross (left) and Harold Deane during the ACC tournament championship game on Sunday. The Tar Heels beat the Cavs 73-66 and earned a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Christopher Record File photo
UNC center Erik Montross pleads his case with referee Lenny Wirtz in a 1994 ACC Tournament game.
UNC center Erik Montross pleads his case with referee Lenny Wirtz in a 1994 ACC Tournament game. Gary O'Brien File photo
Former North Carolina center Eric Montross (center, left) prepares to broadcast with Woody Durham (center, right) prior to the start of the North Carolina-Florida State ACC tournament quarterfinal game at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa
Former North Carolina center Eric Montross (center, left) prepares to broadcast with Woody Durham (center, right) prior to the start of the North Carolina-Florida State ACC tournament quarterfinal game at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa DAVID T. FOSTER III File photo
In this 2015 photo, Camper Sam Benjamin puts up his best shot during the 3 point shot competition as Eric Montross looks on at the Eric Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp. Montross started the camp in the summer of 1994, in part to honor Jason Clark, a teen he befriended at UNC Children’s Hospital.
In this 2015 photo, Camper Sam Benjamin puts up his best shot during the 3 point shot competition as Eric Montross looks on at the Eric Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp. Montross started the camp in the summer of 1994, in part to honor Jason Clark, a teen he befriended at UNC Children’s Hospital. Jim Kenny newsobserver.com
Former Tar Heel Eric Montross plays during the Celebration of a Century on February 12, 2010, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.. ROBERT WILLETT -robert.willett@newsobserver.com
Former Tar Heel Eric Montross plays during the Celebration of a Century on February 12, 2010, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.. ROBERT WILLETT -robert.willett@newsobserver.com Robert Willett ROBERT WILLETT-rwillett@newsobse

This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 10:01 AM with the headline "Photos: Remembering UNC basketball great Eric Montross, who has died of cancer."

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