By Bob Holliday, a contributor for WRAL Sports.

Eric Montross was one of the most exceptional individuals I encountered during my 50 years of covering sports in the Triangle.

He was a fierce competitor on the basketball court. This individual once stated, “If you’re not getting a bit of blood on you, then you’re not playing with enough intensity.”

Eric also exhibited great character off the court. He started a basketball camp for fathers and their sons, conducted each Father’s Day weekend. This camp became a huge fund-raising vehicle for the UNC Children’s Hospital.

I admire Eric for always being willing to be interviewed, never rejecting me. He consistently answered all questions, regardless of the game’s result. His eloquence landed him a role as a basketball analyst for the Tar Heel Sports Network for 18 years.

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of Eric Montross choosing Chapel Hill in the first place. At seven feet, Montross was a pure center from basketball-crazy Indiana. Bob Knight wanted Montross. Eric’s father Scott was a Michigan man. The Wolverines wanted Montross. But Dean Smith won the recruiting battle, and this was arguably the signature signing in Smith’s final decade as coach. You see, Montross was the type of player that other talented guys wanted to join.

During the 1970s, Smith acquired another talented player from Indiana, Dave Colescott. Prior to joining Carolina, Colescott was known as Indiana’s Mr. Basketball. However, Bob Knight did not actively pursue Colescott due to his preference for larger, more imposing guards. Knight did, however, recruit Damon Bailey, Indiana’s 1990 Mr. Basketball, and was also eager for Montross to commit to Indiana University.

After 33 years, I still believe that Montross’ choice to leave the Big Ten area caused a significant impact that was difficult to put into words. In fact, when I went to Indianapolis for the 1991 Final Four, where Montross played for his new team, I visited his former high school Lawrence North. There, I found that the students and teachers were still trying to come to terms with Montross’ decision to go to Chapel Hill. Some even hinted that they were having a hard time forgiving the man who led the Lawrence North Wildcats to victory in the Indiana State Championship in 1989.

Montross had a role as a part-time starter for UNC’s 1991 team that made it to the Final Four. He formed strong friendships with his teammates, particularly Rick Fox and Hubert Davis. When Davis came back to Chapel Hill as a coach, their friendship was reignited, with Davis serving as an assistant and eventually the head coach. Naturally, Davis chose to cancel his weekly radio show upon hearing of Montross’ death.

In 1992, Montross significantly improved his performance at UNC. He became a consistent scorer, averaging double figures and shooting 58% throughout his time as a Tar Heel. He was also a dominant rebounder, particularly on defense. Montross brought a valuable shot-blocking skill to the team that was lacking in the 1990 season. He also surprised many with his ability to steal the ball, despite his height as a seven footer. Montross was not afraid to hustle and dive for loose balls, showing his dedication to the game.

The Bloody Montross Game

During the ’92 Duke-UNC game, there was a pivotal moment involving a loose ball that is still vividly remembered by loyal Tar Heel fans. Montross was diving for the ball when he was accidentally struck by another player’s tooth, causing a deep cut on his forehead. As he attempted to stand up, he was hit with an elbow just below his eye, resulting in even more blood. Despite being able to continue playing, Montross was instructed by officials to leave the court and receive stitches.

During an interview with “The Daily Tar Heel,” Montross expressed frustration at being forced to exit the game. Upon his return, he channeled his anger towards the Blue Devils and motivated his teammates. As a result, UNC emerged victorious over Duke that evening. This particular Blue Devil team, featuring Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, and Bobby Hurley, had only lost one other game that season and went on to win their second consecutive national championship.

UNC’s 1993 Championship

Before the 1992-93 season started, I had a conversation with Eric about New Orleans, the location of the Final Four. When asked about our chances, Montross confidently stated, “There are 15 teams with a shot at the National Championship, and we are one of them.”

He was absolutely correct. George Lynch, a prominent figure at UNC, possessed both skill and expertise. Lynch was partnered by Brian Reese, who played as the forward. Derrick Phelps held down the point guard position consistently. The sophomore standout, Donald Williams, made a name for himself as a shooting guard. And, of course, Montross dominated in the paint.

Carolina emerged as the winner of the ACC regular season, boasting a 14-2 record. In order to secure their spot in New Orleans, the Tar Heels relied on two clutch three-pointers from Williams to defeat a strong Cincinnati team. At the Superdome, they triumphed over Roy Williams’ Kansas team in the semi-finals and faced off against Michigan, who had previously defeated them in Hawaii three months prior.

Williams, arguably the best dome shooter in the program’s storied history, continued his hot shooting to put Carolina in front. Williams made 5-7 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 25 points. Montross played with extra emotion against his father’s school, adding 16 points.

However, during the last 14 minutes, neither team was able to establish a lead greater than four points.

The UNC squad displayed strong teamwork and had a deep bench. In the final six minutes, Coach Dean Smith utilized his bench players, including Pat Sullivan, Henrik Rodl, and Kevin Salvadori, and they all impressed with their contributions while giving the tired starters a break. Despite having substitutes on the court during a crucial moment, the game remained tight. Thanks to Smith’s strategic choice, the rested starters, including Montross and Williams, were able to secure a late lead and ultimately win the game.

Everyone of course remembers Chris Webber’s time out-when Michigan was out of time outs. It resulted in a technical foul and Williams, who would be voted the Most Outstanding Player, drained the free throws.

Several experts proposed that Webber’s mistake turned the tide in Carolina’s favor. Montross was visibly annoyed. “That secured the victory,” he stated decisively. Eric informed me that the Tar Heels had already positioned themselves for a win before Webber’s regrettable incident.

In the 1995 NBA draft, Montross was chosen as the ninth player. He spent nine seasons playing for teams such as Boston and Toronto. After retiring, he joined the Rams’ Club, which is responsible for raising funds for UNC athletics. Montross held the position of Senior Director of Principal Gifts, where he was tasked with setting fundraising targets and connecting with major donors to secure future donations. He was frequently asked to speak at events for the Rams’ Club and was known to be successful in both of his roles.

However, the aspect of Eric Montross that remains most prominent today is his role as a humanitarian. Montross dedicated a significant amount of time to philanthropic efforts, including serving on the board of directors for the Be Loudi Sophie Foundation and co-founding the Vaccine Ambassadors.

Additionally, there is the basketball camp.

During his time at UNC, Montross formed a strong bond with a 15-year-old named Jason Clark who was battling cancer. Touched by their time together, Eric was determined to make a positive impact on Jason’s life. He asked Jason to create a list of ways to improve services at UNC’s Children’s Hospital, and together with his wife Laura, they came up with the idea of hosting a fathers and sons basketball camp on Father’s Day weekend to raise funds for the hospital. The camp has since raised close to $2 million, and the participating fathers and sons have also had the opportunity to learn basketball from Eric, a devoted family man.

It is unfortunate and heartbreaking that Eric was diagnosed with cancer nine months ago. Sadly, he lost his fight on Sunday, just six weeks after the passing of the legendary Walter Davis.

I can’t even imagine what it’s like being Hubert Davis right now, losing his uncle and former teammate in such a short span. Walter Davis was just 69. And Eric Montross, like Walter Davis, a pillar in the Carolina community, was just 52. He is gone entirely too soon.

Source: wralsportsfan.com