A graduate of St. John's High School, Ross played his university basketball at the University of Manitoba from 1966 to 1971. In 1972, Ross was a member of the Canadian National Team that played in Mexico, Italy, and Germany. The team finished third at the Pre Olympic Tournament in Augsburg, Germany, narrowly missing a trip to the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Ross was also a member of the St. Andrews Super Saints that won Canadian Senior Men's Championships in 1972, 1975, 1976.