College basketball coaches send out countless letters this time of year, most of them to potential recruits. But last week, North Carolina coach Roy Williams sent a different kind of letter.

It was addressed to Charlie Humphries, a lifelong Tar Heels fan and father of three, who's in the midst of a three-year battle with melanoma.

Courtesy of Humphries family

“It was totally out of the blue," Humphries told ESPN.com. "I know he’s extremely busy this time of year. It really surprised me and meant a lot to me.”

Humphries -- who could recognize the distinct hue of Carolina Blue before he was 2 years old -- receives words of encouragement every day, but this one was different.

"It brought me to tears," Humphries said. "It wasn't a broad letter. It was personal."