North Carolina legend Larry Miller dies at 79

A former North Carolina great has passed away. Larry Miller, a two-time ACC Player of the Year, died Sunday at age 79 in Bethlehem, Pa., according to a UNC press release.

A cause of death was not included in the release. North Carolina will mourn the loss of one of its own, with Miller playing an important part in the program’s history.

The talented small forward was a member of Dean Smith‘s first two ACC Championship teams and Final Four teams in 1967 and 1968. En route to those finishes, Larry Miller did enough to earn first-team All-America honors in both seasons.

During the second season, his senior year in 1968, Miller earned first-team All-American recognition in one of the most stacked years in recorded history. He joined Lew Alcindor (UCLA), Elvin Hayes (Houston), Pete Maravich (LSU) and Wes Unseld (Louisville).

In winning the ACC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Miller became one of just three players in history to achieve that. He is the only North Carolina player that has been named an ACC Player of the year twice.

Larry Miller scored in double figures in 64 straight games during his North Carolina career, a lasting UNC record. He scored 1,982 points across three seasons, averaging 21.8 points per game, the fifth-highest total by a Tar Heel.

One of Miller’s best outings ever came against heated rival Duke in the 1967 ACC Championship Game. During that contest, Larry Miller notched 32 points on 13-of-14 shooting in the 82-73 win.

During Miller’s time with the program, North Carolina compiled a 70-21 record, including a 32-10 mark in ACC play. North Carolina finished ranked No. 4 by the AP in both of his last two seasons with the program.

Larry Miller spent seven years in the ABA and set the league’s all-time single-game scoring record with 67 points. He will be missed.