Eric Montross, Larger Than Life

Eric Montross (1971 – 2023) lived larger than life. At 7′ tall, he stood out in a crowd and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest and most genuine Tar Heels of all time. He delivered an NCAA championship to UNC in 1993 for Hall of Fame Men’s Basketball Coach Dean Smith and followed that with a successful eight-year professional career in the NBA. However, despite his success in basketball, Montross will be most remembered for his kind and generous spirit off the court.

Montross started visiting patients at UNC Children’s Hospital while a student at Carolina. Inspired by those he met, Eric and Laura Montross started the Eric Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp in 1995 to support the hospital and honor the memory of Jason Clark. Montross Camp | UNC Children’s – Chapel Hill, N.C. (uncchildrens.org)

In honor of Eric’s life and legacy, the nonprofit Lessons For Life Through Sports donated copies of the book “Lessons For Tar Heels” to every camper at the 2024 Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp. “We were aware of the Montross Father’s Day Camp, and in our own small way, we wanted to remember Eric’s legacy and contribute to helping children,” said Aaron Gard, founder of the nonprofit. “We are very thankful to Laura Montross for allowing us to donate books and for all her amazing work helping children.”