Former UNC center Eric Montross dies at 52

Eric Montross died Sunday following a nine-month battle with cancer, his family announced Monday. Montross was 52.

Montross' family issued a statement through the University of North Carolina, where he was a member of the Tar Heels 1993 national title team.

"Carolina Athletics, the Tar Heel basketball family and the entire University community are profoundly saddened and stunned by the loss of Eric Montross, one of our most beloved former student-athletes, at far too young an age," the school said in a separate statement. "Eric was a great player and accomplished student, but the impacts he made on our community went way beyond the basketball court. He was a man of faith, a tremendous father, husband and son, and one of the most recognizable ambassadors of the University and Chapel Hill."

North Carolina defeated Michigan's "Fab Five" team that included Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard in the '93 title game, 77-71.

Montross was diagnosed with cancer in March. He stepped away from the Tar Heel Sports Network radio broadcasts in October.

He spent four years with the Tar Heels and was a teammate of current UNC coach Hubert Davis under Dean Smith.

Montross was selected ninth overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1994 NBA Draft and played in the league for nine seasons.

A first-team All-ACC pick and Final Four all-tournament team selection, Montross called games for the team's radio network for 18 seasons prior to stepping away to focus on his health at the start of the current season.

—Field Level Media