Some shocking news just came out regarding the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team today, involving a former staffer and player, Andre McGee, alleged to have hired escorts to service recruits during their trips to campus.
The allegations stem from a soon-to-be-published book in which a woman named Katina Powell contends that her and her two daughters were repeatedly hired by McGee to provide strippers and prostitutes during recruits’ campus visits.
Powell’s book, titled “Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen,” makes mention of providing entertainment for Cardinals players for 22 parties from 2010 to 2014, meaning the team’s 2013 national championship may hang in the balance should the NCAA discover the allegations to be true.
Tom Jurich was also asked if the 2013 championship is in any danger because of these allegations: “I have no idea.”
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 2, 2015
“”According to an ESPN report, the university found out about the book after the Indianapolis Business Journal contacted the school’s athletic sports information department, per ESPN:
Louisville released a statement Friday that it first learned of the allegations when the Indianapolis Business Journal contacted the school in late August. The school said it had retained Chuck Smrt of the Compliance Group to conduct an investigation. The book is scheduled to be released by IBJ Book Publishing LLC as soon as this weekend. Powell told the IBJ that part of the reason she is doing the book is to make money. She will receive 10 percent of the book’s sales.
Louisville’s men’s basketball coach, Rick Pitino, just addressed the situation via press conference, seeming distraught and exhausted from the reports, with reporter Jeff Borzello offering up-to-the-minute analysis from Pitino, via Twitter:
Rick Pitino said he found out a month ago, but was told not to investigate on his own. Talked to Andre McGee one time. — Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 2, 2015
The coach also said he spoke with several current/former coaches and Grad Assistants, aadding, per Borzello’s Twitter:
Pitino said he spoke with over 15 current/former assistants, GAs, etc. — they all had “no knowledge.”
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 2, 2015
“”Details are still being investigated by both the school and NCAA, so Pitino is doing everything he can to allow the process to run its course until then, adding, per Borzello’s Twitter:
REPORTER: “You’ve mentioned that you don’t believe these allegations are true.” PITINO: “I didn’t say that.” — Luke Winn (@lukewinn) October 2, 2015
We’ll have to see what comes from all of this, but, there’s no denying that it’s a major story in college basketball.
[H/T ESPN]