Eric Montross
Encyclopedia
Eric Scott Montross (born September 23, 1971 in Indianapolis, Indiana
) is a retired American professional basketball
player who played in the NBA
.
Montross attended Lawrence North High School
in Indianapolis and graduated in 1990. He was the starting center for the Indiana state champion Wildcats for Lawrence North in 1989. He was selected as a McDonald's All American in 1990. That same year, he was named to the USA Today All-USA first Team. Later in 1990, he began attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. He was part of the North Carolina Tar Heels
team that won the NCAA Championship
against Michigan
in 1993 and was named an All-American
as a junior and senior
. Ironically, Montross' father and grandfather had played for Michigan. His father Scott was a teammate of Cazzie Russell in the 1960s and his grandfather John Townsend
was an All-American in the 1930s.
In 1994, he started the Eric Montross Fathers Day Basketball Camp. The camp helped raise thousands of dollars for UNC hospitals and still does.
Montross was selected by the Boston Celtics
with the ninth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft
. During his first year in the NBA, he averaged 10 points per game, and was selected to the 1995 Rookie All-Star Game and named to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team. However, Montross would never again reach this level of production. The Celtics came under fire for selecting Montross over players such as Eddie Jones
, Jalen Rose
, and Aaron McKie
. During his career in the NBA, Montross played with the Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
, New Jersey Nets
, Philadelphia 76ers
, Detroit Pistons
, and the Toronto Raptors
. Montross announced his retirement on August 26, 2003, due to a foot injury and was waived by the Raptors in February, 2004.
Montross is now color commentator on UNC's basketball broadcasts, working alongside play-by-play man Jones Angell.
During his career, Montross averaged 4.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 0.4 assists per game. He played in 465 games and started 263.
Montross was also a baseball pitcher in high school and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the 1547th pick overall in the 1994 MLB draft.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
) is a retired American professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
Montross attended Lawrence North High School
Lawrence North High School
Lawrence North High School is a public high school in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is located at 7802 North Hague Road on the northeast side of the city. It is one of two high schools serving grades nine through twelve in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. The 2006–07 enrollment...
in Indianapolis and graduated in 1990. He was the starting center for the Indiana state champion Wildcats for Lawrence North in 1989. He was selected as a McDonald's All American in 1990. That same year, he was named to the USA Today All-USA first Team. Later in 1990, he began attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. He was part of the North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
team that won the NCAA Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
against Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1993 and was named an All-American
1993 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1993 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
as a junior and senior
1994 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1994 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
. Ironically, Montross' father and grandfather had played for Michigan. His father Scott was a teammate of Cazzie Russell in the 1960s and his grandfather John Townsend
John Townsend (basketball)
John Frederick "Jake" Townsend, Sr. was an American basketball forward and center. He was an All-Big Ten player for the University of Michigan from 1936-1938. In 1938, he was named an All-American...
was an All-American in the 1930s.
In 1994, he started the Eric Montross Fathers Day Basketball Camp. The camp helped raise thousands of dollars for UNC hospitals and still does.
Montross was selected by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the ninth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft
1994 NBA Draft
The 1994 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1994 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is notable for the fact that two NBA rookies of the year were picked in the first round, as Jason Kidd and Grant Hill were co-winners of the award for the 1994–95 NBA season...
. During his first year in the NBA, he averaged 10 points per game, and was selected to the 1995 Rookie All-Star Game and named to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team. However, Montross would never again reach this level of production. The Celtics came under fire for selecting Montross over players such as Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones (basketball)
Eddie Charles Jones is an American former professional basketball player. Jones played college basketball at Temple University and was the 1993–94 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year...
, Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose is a retired American professional basketball player, who currently works as a sports analyst for the sports television network ESPN...
, and Aaron McKie
Aaron McKie
Aaron Fitzgerald McKie is an American former professional basketball player in the NBA and currently an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers...
. During his career in the NBA, Montross played with the Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, and the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
. Montross announced his retirement on August 26, 2003, due to a foot injury and was waived by the Raptors in February, 2004.
Montross is now color commentator on UNC's basketball broadcasts, working alongside play-by-play man Jones Angell.
During his career, Montross averaged 4.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 0.4 assists per game. He played in 465 games and started 263.
Montross was also a baseball pitcher in high school and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the 1547th pick overall in the 1994 MLB draft.