UNC men’s basketball alumnus and radio analyst Eric Montross, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, shared an update on his condition at Friday night’s “Live Action with Carolina Basketball” event in Chapel Hill.

In a pre-recorded video message, Montross told the audience he is in good spirits, but would not be able to join play-by-play announcer Jones Angell on the radio for the 2023-24 season.

“The outpouring of support from our Tar Heel family during this journey has been humbling. Thank you,” Montross said. “I am fighting and will continue to fight every day.”

To honor Montross, the UNC men’s basketball team presented a $25,000 check to UNC Children’s Hospital, of which Montross has long been a benefactor. His annual Father’s Day Basketball Camp raises funds for the hospital.

“I will not be in person with you on the Tar Heel Sports Network this season,” said Montross, “but know that even if you don’t see me – and I know I’m hard to miss – I will be cheering on our Tar Heels during every single game.”

In the wake of Montross’ initial announcement in March, support came flooding in from across Chapel Hill and the country. UNC men’s basketball alumnus and former NBA head coach George Karl, UNC football head coach Mack Brown and even former Duke Blue Devil star Jay Bilas were among those to post messages to Montross on social media.

A seven-footer from Indianapolis, Montross was named a McDonald’s All-American in high school before arriving in Chapel Hill at the start of the 1990-91 basketball season. Playing for head coach Dean Smith and for two seasons alongside current head coach Hubert Davis, Montross and the Tar Heels reached two Final Fours in his four seasons. After falling in the 1991 national semifinals, Carolina returned to the Final Four in 1993 and won the program’s fourth national championship. Montross led the way down low, scoring 16 points in the championship win against Michigan while battling with the Wolverines’ Chris Webber.

The 1993 season was Montross’ best as a Tar Heel, as he averaged a career-high 15.8 points per game and shot higher than 60 percent from the field. He was named first team All-ACC and second team All-America as a junior and earned first team Academic All-America status as a senior. He was selected ninth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and played eight NBA seasons.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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 biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Report: Longtime Gonzaga Assistant Jorge Sanz to Join UNC Men's Basketball Staff
According to a report from Theo Lawson of the Spokane Spokesman-Review, longtime Gonzaga assistant Jorge Sanz is set to join UNC head coach Michael Malone’s staff in Chapel Hill. Longtime Gonzaga assistant/Director of Operations Jorge Sanz is moving on to North Carolina after eight seasons in Spokane, where he was integral to the program's nonconference […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Cost of Business
Carolina has released its salary structure for the 2026-27 men’s basketball season, and right now it has to be a game of wait and see. Mike Malone is making $7.5 million in his first college head coaching season and his new top assistant Chuck Martin is making $500,000. Here is where it gets interesting. The […]
Report: Buffalo Transfer Angelo Brizzi Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Angelo Brizzi, who spent the 2025-26 season with Buffalo, reportedly committed to head coach Michael Malone and UNC out of the transfer portal Wednesday. Inside Carolina first reported the news. UNC will be Brizzi’s fifth school in five years. The guard began his career at Villanova in 2022 – entering college in the same class […]
Freshmen, Transfers and More: Every Newcomer Joining UNC Men's Basketball for the 2026-27 Season
As Michael Malone embarks on his first season as the head coach of the UNC men’s basketball program, he’s gotten busy securing the additions of several newcomers to the program. Malone and his staff have mined from traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal to fill out Carolina’s roster, and that work is continuing […]
Former UNC Player Ed Davis Among Several Indicted in NBA Gambling Scandal
Ed Davis, who played for the UNC men’s basketball team from 2008 through 2010 and helped the Tar Heels win the 2009 national title, is among six former NBA players who are being charged with conspiracy, bribery and money laundering as the result of a federal investigation. An indictment published Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network Takeover
The ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face Illinois in Nashville Hoops Showdown in January
UNC is adding another high-level non-conference matchup to its 2026-27 schedule. The Tar Heels will face Illinois in the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday, Jan. 30. The matchup has been confirmed by both programs and by Bridgestone Arena, which will host the game. Tar Heels 🆚 Fighting Illini in Nashville pic.twitter.com/UuhExCctMB — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
UNC's Henri Veesaar Drafted by Los Angeles Clippers, Traded to Atlanta Hawks
Henri Veesaar is league-bound. The seven-foot center, who spent the 2025-26 season with UNC after committing to the Tar Heels out of the transfer portal, was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 52 overall pick in the NBA Draft, who then traded that pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Veesaar spent the first […]
UNC's Caleb Wilson Selected by Chicago Bulls with No. 4 Overall Pick in 2026 NBA Draft
Caleb Wilson is headed to the Windy City. The Chicago Bulls selected the star UNC freshman forward with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft. Wilson is the highest-picked Tar Heel in the NBA Draft since Marvin Williams went No. 2 overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 2005. Carolina […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Host Arkansas, Women to Host LSU in 2026 ACC-SEC Challenge
The matchups have been set for both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball programs in the upcoming ACC-SEC Challenge: the men will host Arkansas on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Smith Center, while the women will host LSU on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Carmichael Arena. ACC/SEC challenge is set 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/AWzBSN1Cbv — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
›