Former Louisville recruits confirm taking part in alleged dorm parties

Five former Louisville recruits and players confirmed in detail they attended dorm parties that included strippers paid for by a former assistant coach.

According to an ESPN report by John Barr and Jeff Goodman, one of those players said he had sex with an escort after former graduate assistant Andre McGee paid for her.

"I knew they weren't college girls," the former recruit, who ultimately elected to commit elsewhere, told ESPN. "It was crazy. It was like I was in a strip club."

A book titled "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen," published this month by self-described former escort Katina Powell, highlighted more than two dozen alleged stripping and sex parties that took place at Louisville from 2010 through 2014.

The incidents allegedly occurred inside Billy Minardi Hall, the on-campus dorm where the basketball players stay. Over that time span, Powell claimed she received $10,000 for her services.

In the wake of the latest allegation, Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich gave head coach Rick Pitino a vote of confidence.

"Coach Pitino has no plans to step down and he absolutely didn't know about the allegations," Jurich said in a brief statement.

In the latest revelation, Powell indicated the names of some notable players who allegedly took part, including Houston Rockets guard Montrezl Harrell, and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Russ Smith.

The recruits who Powell alleges had sex on their visits included JaQuan Lyle, Antonio Blakeney, Jordan Mickey and Terry Rozier.

Another former Cardinals player, who claims he attended the parties as a recruit, confirmed the stories told by Powell in some detail.

"(McGee) would give us the money, just the recruits," he said. "A bunch of us were sitting there while they danced. Then the players left, and the recruits chose which one (of the dancers) they wanted."

From there, he went on to say that McGee provided him with one-dollar bills to tip the dancers, after which he paid for one of them to sleep with his recruit in a separate room.

McGee, currently an assistant coach at UMKC, has been placed on paid administrative leave from his current job while the NCAA and Louisville continue their investigations.

Since the scandal first broke, head coach Rick Pitino has continued to vehemently deny knowing anything about the parties. Powell, however, is continuing to stand by her claims.

"I couldn't make this up if I wanted to," Powell said. "I have no reason, or have the need, to lie on anyone. Everything I'm saying is 100 percent the truth."

Former Cardinals player Luke Hancock, Louisville's Final Four Most Outstanding Player who was never mentioned by Powell in any of her accounts, said he never heard of her until the scandal first broke.

But regardless of whether the case is proven true or false, Hancock said he stands by his former coach.

"I can only say what I know: I have never seen this person before. For somebody who was around the team so much, how have I never seen her before?" Hancock said. "You can't be in every second of every player's lives, you can only try and guide and influence people the right way when you are around them.

"I wholeheartedly believe coach Pitino embodies a leader who tries to make his players better on the court, but really grow as people off the court."