Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook is presented by The Casual Pint. YOUR place for delicious pub food paired with local beer. Choose among 35 rotating taps and 200+ beers in the cooler.
There was no Carolina basketball player like Larry Miller.
He was the dream All-American, a 6-foot-4 gunslinging southpaw who was handsome as a devil, a fun-loving guy and ferocious competitor. He had a hot convertible, hair and St. Christopher’s medal flopping when he drove down the street or down the court.
Miller was the cornerstone of Dean Smith’s program, leading the Tar Heels to two straight Final Fours during seasons when he was twice ACC Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP. No one else in Tar Heel basketball history has ever done that. No one.
The 5-star plus recruit could have gone anywhere and many thought that would be Duke, which in the early 1960s had the best program in the east. Smith knew the odds, but as long as Miller didn’t commit to the Blue Devils he kept sending assistant coach Ken Rosemond to Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, to visit Miller and his family.
“You know, Larry,” Rosemond told him, “You can come all the way down to Durham and you are only 10 minutes from heaven.”
Miller was not cocky, but confident enough to believe his rugged rebounding and stealth shooting could turn Carolina into a national contender from an ACC also-ran. And that’s what happened after Smith signed Miller and the next recruiting class of center Rusty Clark, forward Bill Bunting and guard Dick Grubar, plus high school stars Joe Brown and Gerald Tuttle.
That allowed Miller and UNC’s second banana Bobby Lewis to move out to the perimeter where they scored from all over the floor. The Tar Heels swept Duke in the regular season and dethroned the Blue Devils for the 1967 ACC Tournament championship where they were underdogs because of Duke’s pedigree.
Late in a very close game, Smith was barking instructions when Miller ran by the bench and said, “Coach, don’t worry, we’ve got it.”
Miller made 13 of 14 field goal attempts and combined with Lewis to score 58 points as Carolina won and moved on to Smith’s first NCAA Tournament and the first of three straight regional championships and Final Fours.
Larry Miller cuts down the nets following the 1967 ACC Tournament. (Image via Durham Morning Herald/Harold Moore)
Those teams stayed very close and in 2018 held a 50-year reunion where Miller was as charming as ever. He knew why people were drawn to him and was happy to engage all ages at the festivities.
A few years ago, Miller fell ill and battled bad health until he died Sunday under Hospice Care in Pennsylvania at 79. A half-century later, Tar Heels mourn his loss.
He was beloved by every teammate, because his unselfishness made them all better. He leaves a legacy of high school and college records and still owns the highest single game of 67 points in the old ABA before the league folded.
“He was the straw who stirred the drink,” said Jim Delany, who played with Miller and remained a long-time friend.
This time, let’s all toast the incomparable Larry Miller.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
The great Larry Miller was to me the greatest ball player UNC recruited. In his sophomore year even the great Bobby Lewis couldn’t escape his shadow.He was automatic from 25 ft or 5 ft..He made this ,at the time 9 year old a Tar Heel forever.Go with God Larrry.
Brings back memories. I was on the freshman team with Bobby Lewis and Donnie Moe, both pictured here. Never got to play with Miller as I didn’t have the grades to make the team after my freshman season. But it sure was a pleasure watching the “L and M” boys work together over their years together at UNC. Did you know Lewis holds the single game scoring record at UNC and Miller holds the single game scoring record in the old ABA?
Nitpicking a terrific article, Art, but remember that Larry’s UNC recruiter was named Ken Rosemond, not Roseman.