Eric Montross, Beloved Member of UNC and NBA Community, Passes Away at Home Surrounded by Loved Ones

Former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and NBA big man, Eric Montross, passed away on Sunday surrounded by loved ones at his Chapel Hill home. Montross had been diagnosed with cancer in March, leading to him stepping away from his duties as a radio analyst for UNC game broadcasts.

The family released an announcement on Monday morning, saying, “To know Eric was to be his friend, and the family knows that the ripples from the generous, thoughtful way that he lived his life will continue in the lives of the many people he touched with his deep and sincere kindness.”

Montross was a beloved figure in the North Carolina basketball community. He was a member of the 1993 National Championship team and was named the 1993 National Player of the Year. He was drafted ninth overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1994 NBA Draft and went on to play for the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, and Indiana Pacers.

After his retirement from the NBA in 2001, Montross returned to Chapel Hill and joined the Tar Heels radio broadcast team in 2006. He was also a color analyst for the ACC Network.

The family asked for privacy during this difficult time and requested that donations be made to the Eric Montross Scholarship Fund at UNC. Montross will be remembered for his kindness and generosity, and his legacy will live on through the many lives he touched.