Fansided

Ranking the top 30 UNC basketball players in program history

By Cooper Watson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 7: Michael Jordan kisses former coach Dean Smith of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a halftime ceremony honoring the 1993 national championship team during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Dean Smith Center on March 7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 7: Michael Jordan kisses former coach Dean Smith of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a halftime ceremony honoring the 1993 national championship team during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Dean Smith Center on March 7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 30
Next
CHAPEL HILL, NC – DECEMBER 06: “Ramses”, mascot for the North Carolina Tar Heel, during a game against the Western Carolina Catamounts on December 06, 2017 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 104-61. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – DECEMBER 06: “Ramses”, mascot for the North Carolina Tar Heel, during a game against the Western Carolina Catamounts on December 06, 2017 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 104-61. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /

16. Eric Montross (1990-94)

Eric Montross is correctly remembered as one of the truly elite big men in the history of UNC basketball.

While career averages of 11.7 PPG and 6.8 RPG might not jump off of the page, Montross’ peak as a junior and senior as well as his career accomplishments from a team perspective are undeniably great.

As a freshman, Montross was an occasional starter and key role player on UNC’s Final Four team. As a sophomore, Montross started 25 of 31 games, averaging 11.2 PPG and 7.0 RPG on a team that made the Sweet Sixteen.

Montross’ junior season was historic, averaging 15.8 PPG and 7.6 RPG on a UNC team that took down Michigan’s Fab Five to win the National Championship. He followed that up with career-high averages of 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game as a senior, with UNC winning the ACC Tournament before being upset by Boston College in the NCAA Tournament. Montross ranks sixth all-time in UNC history in career blocks.