Report: Louisville basketball recruits told NCAA about on-campus sex parties

Former Louisville men's basketball recruits reportedly have confirmed to NCAA investigators that they attended on-campus sex parties.

A source close to the NCAA investigation told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" at least three former recruits met with investigators in October and November and told them they attended parties inside an on-campus dorm where strippers danced for them and prostitutes were paid to have sex with them.

Chuck Smrt, the person hired by the University of Louisville to monitor the progress of the NCAA's investigation, also attended those meetings, according to "Outside the Lines."

"There's no question this stuff happened," the source told ESPN. "There's no question the people at the University of Louisville know this happened. Katina Powell is not an admirable person, but she told the truth."

On Feb. 5, Louisville self-imposed a postseason ban on its men's basketball team for this season amid the NCAA's ongoing investigation into the alleged recruiting scandal.

Louisville, which finished the regular season 23-8 and ranked No. 14, missed out on the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and won't hear its name called on Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament.

Katina Powell, in the book "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen" published last year by the self-described former escort, alleged that Andre McGee, a former men's basketball staffer at Louisville, hired dancers and escorts for recruits and players.

According to Powell, from 2010 to 2014, McGee paid her about $10,000 to supply dancers and escorts to parties that occurred inside Billy Minardi Hall, the on-campus dorm that houses basketball players and other athletes.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino has claimed he had no knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing.

A person familiar with the NCAA enforcement process told "Outside the Lines" that, based on the statements from the three players to the NCAA, the Louisville program might have violated NCAA rules on impermissible benefits to players and/or shown a lack of institutional control.

"If you've got three (recruits), that's a slam dunk" to put together a case, the source said. "That's the enforcement staff's dream."