It sounds like some make believe Hollywood movie title – “The ball boy becomes the star.”

Only in this case, it’s fact, not fiction.

While in grade school, Robert Osborne was Virginia Union University’s ball boy long before becoming a top candidate for CIAA Player of the Year.

He got his foot in the Barco-Stevens Hall door with the help of his mother, Kelli Osborne, who was a Panthers cheerleader and remained close to the program during the Dave Robbins’ coaching era.

“I used to hang around the gym, shooting on the side basket, and got to be the ball boy in 2006-2007,” he said.

“I knew the players and coaches and sometimes they even helped me with my homework.”

He mentioned Brad Byerson, Darius Hargrove and Duan Crockett as being among “my favorite players” during that era.

Now it’s Osborne – aka “The Wizard of Os” – who Panthers’ fans are looking up to.

Thus far he has spurred Coach Jay Butler’s squad to a 10-1 record (after winning 70-67 Dec. 17 in OT at Winston-Salem) and No. 13 national ranking (as of last week).

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound forward leads VUU in minutes played (31.9 per game) scoring (17.2), rebounding (9.1) and, surprisingly, assists, too, with 46.

It’s a rarity when a low-post operator leads in assists.

“Robbie may be the best passer on the team,” Coach Butler said. “He’s very unselfish and wants to win. He’s so good at throwing bullet, cross-court passes for open shots.”

If VUU foes double-team the powerful, left-handed Osborne in the paint, he’s likely to find an open man on the perimeter.

“I love to pass and get my teammates involved,” he said. “We have such good shooters, so much talent.”

Osborne began to flex his considerable muscles a season ago and during the CIAA tournament in Baltimore earlier this year.

Earning tourney MVP honors, he scored 57 points and grabbed 46 rebounds in three games, including a 25-point, 16-rebound command performance against Fayetteville State in the tough loss finals.

Changing his jersey No. from 35 to 23, he’s started this season like he ended last year. He opened his senior season with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Shippensburg.

Never taking a night off, he’s scored in double figures every outing, and five times registered double digits on the boards.

From ball boy, Osborne graduated a standout All-Colonial District performer at Hermitage High in Glen Allen.

Despite strong credentials, his college recruitment was light, and he chose Hampton University with less than a full scholarship.

He never took the floor for the Pirates.

“I may have been on the roster my first year, but I never played,” he recalled. “I was just a student there and was playing intramurals.”

It was during the hoopless COVID season (2020-21) that Osborne considered coming home. He had been actively recruited by VUU’s Coach Butler while at Hermitage.

“I went to Barco to play some open gym and began to talk to Coach Butler,” Osborne recalled. “He told me that if I needed a place to play, I was welcome at Union.”

Coach Butler refers to it as part of his “back end” recruiting.

“You recruit an athlete and sometimes you don’t get him on the front end, but you do on the back end,” Coach Butler explained.

Now the unlikely cycle is complete. The ball boy has become a star attraction.

“Robbie plays with a chip on his shoulder, with passion,” Coach Butler said. “He’s been a blessing.”