Rick Pitino 'disheartened' by investigation into use of escorts to recruit

In separate investigations, Louisville and the NCAA are looking into whether a former member of the basketball staff provided escorts to players and recruits.

The allegations by Katina Powell come via a book called "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen." The Louisville woman alleges that former staffer Andre McGee hired her to provide escorts to dance and have sex with athletes over a four-year period.

When questioned about the accusations, athletic director Tom Jurich confirmed the investigations, but said he has nothing to hide, and that the school will fully comply.

"We're still trying to uncover the facts," Jurich said. "We want to get to the bottom of it as much as anybody does ... and we will."

McGee was a graduate assistant under Rick Pitino from 2010-12 and then the director of basketball operations from 2012-14. Powell alleges that more than $10,000 changed hands during McGee's tenure.

Related: UMKC puts assistant Andre McGee on leave following investigation

Pitino says he attempted to conduct his own investigation, but was quickly shut down. Ever since the news surfaced, he says he's been unable to sleep.

"To say I'm disheartened, disappointed, would be the biggest understatement I've made as a coach," Pitino said during a Friday news conference.

The school released a statement Friday, saying it was made aware of the allegations in late August.

"In coordination with the university's legal counsel and faculty athletics representative, Mr. (Chuck) Smrt's review was quickly launched to assess the validity of the information and the potential for any NCAA rules violations," the school said. "The university, on its own initiative, notified the NCAA enforcement staff regarding this matter and has been in regular communication with them."