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This ESPN Investigation Into The Louisville Prostitution Claims Will Shock You [VIDEO]

David Hookstead Sports And Entertainment Editor
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ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” confirmed with five anonymous former University of Louisville basketball recruits and players that they partied with strippers who had been paid by former graduate assistant coach Andre McGee.

Three of the players admitted to attending these parties, allegedly facilitated by McGee, during visits as a recruit, and then again when they played for Louisville, according to ESPN. Not all the recruits, however, were impressed by the strippers they were provided on their recruiting visit.

One recruit who chose not to go there told ESPN, “I knew they weren’t college girls. It was crazy. It was like I was in a strip club.” (RELATED: Were Louisville Basketball Recruits Provided Prostitutes For Sex? [VIDEO])

Allegations of recruits being provided strippers and prostitutes first surfaced when Katina Powell, 42, published the book “Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen,” where she explained how McGee paid her to provide women for these parties.

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One recruit told “Outside The Lines” that they were given cash to throw at strippers, and then when the players left, the recruits could pick whatever woman they wanted. One of the bigger allegations involves current NBA player Montrezl Harrell who had allegedly paid to have sex with Powell’s daughter, Rod Ni Powell.

“Montrezl was there, and I don’t know, I guess he felt left out. He just kind of asked me if I would do it, and I did it. I got paid maybe $100, maybe a little more,” Rod Ni Powell told ESPN.

Harrell, who currently plays for the Houston Rockets, denied the allegations, echoing the sentiments of former Louisville star Terrence Williams. (RELATED: Former Louisville Star Denies Prostitution Allegations, Proudly Declares He Never Has To Pay For Sex)

A woman going by the name Mandy told ESPN that she attended these sex parties in 2010 or 2011 when she was a minor.

Former Louisville star and current NBA player Terry Rozier defended Louisville coach Rick Pitino from having knowledge of the sex parties without denying the parties took place.

“I don’t want to talk about it. … I was already committed before I took my visit,” Rozier said. “I will say, though, Coach P [Pitino], as far as the dorm situations and visits, he’d go out to eat with the recruits and their parents. As far as after that, he wouldn’t know. … I can say his nose is clean.”

A spokesman for Commonwealth Attorney Tom Wine has said that if their office receives concrete evidence of child or sexual abuse that those responsible will be prosecuted.

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