Osby suffers heartbreaking loss

Despite a Herculean scoring effort by 2008 prospect Romero Osby, Northeast Lauderdale from Meridian, Miss., gave up a late lead for a heartbreaking loss to Lanier High School of Jackson, Miss., in the sweet 16 of the playoffs. Now Osby, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound small forward turns his attention to the coming AAU season.

With his team up by 8 points with 54 seconds left in regulation, Osby saw his 36 point effort go to waste as Lanier stormed back to send the game into overtime and then win 102-97.

"We had the game, and then we just gave it to them," said Osby. "Some calls down the stretch didn't go our way, but we also just didn't make the plays that we needed to make."

Finishing the season averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks per game, Osby is set to play for the MBA Magic out of the Jackson, Miss., area on the summer circuit. The first big event of the spring for the Magic will be The Real Deal on the Hill in Fayetteville, Ark., the second weekend of April.

"I'll be working out almost every day to get ready," he said. "I'm doing a lot of ball handling, weight lifting and quickness and agility drills. I'm also getting a ton of shots up, working on getting more elevation so I can shoot over people."

Despite heavy attention from Mississippi State and Ole Miss, Osby is looking to play his college ball outside of his home state.

"I'd like to get out of the state and make a name for myself and for the state of Mississippi," he said. "A lot of players out of Mississippi either have gone straight to the pros or staid home, but I'd like to go another direction.

"North Carolina is my favorite school, and they have begun to write me. I also like Memphis, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Connecticut, Alabama and Louisville."

Wake Forest, Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi State and Ole Miss have all evaluated Osby in person during this season.

Romero Osby scouting report:

A jack of all trades type of player, Osby has the size and versatility to impact the game both inside and outside. He still needs to refine his perimeter skills and his ability to defend on the perimeter, since he projects as a small forward on the collegiate level.