Confirmed: U of L involved in FBI investigation

Louisville+head+coach+Rick+Pitino+yells+from+the+sidelines+during+the+game+against+the+Louisville+Cardinals+on+Wednesday%2C+December+21%2C+2016+in+Louisville%2C+Ky.+Louisville+won+the+game+73-70.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino yells from the sidelines during the game against the Louisville Cardinals on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 in Louisville, Ky. Louisville won the game 73-70.

News Staff

The University of Louisville interim president confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the university is a part of a federal investigation into college basketball corruption.

A complaint against 10 individuals involved in college basketball was announced earlier this morning. According to the document, the FBI has arrested four college basketball team assistants: Auburn assistant Chuck Person, Southern California Assistant Tony Bland, Arizona assistant Emanuel Richardson and Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans, WHAS11 reported. 

The charges of fraud and corruption have been brought against four college basketball coaches and managers, financial advisers and representatives of sportswear company. 

No U of L coaches or assistant coaches are named in the indictment, but a Kentucky university is described as University-6. University-6 is a public research university, with approximately 22,640 students and more than 7,000 faculty and staff members.

This description matched U of L, and interim president Gregory Postel confirmed U of L’s involvement in a statement:

“Today, the University of Louisville received notice that it is included in a federal investigation involving criminal activity related to men’s basketball recruiting.

While we are just learning about this information, this is a serious concern that goes to the heart of our athletic department and the university. U of L is committed to ethical behavior and adherence to NCAA rules; any violations will not be tolerated.

We will cooperate fully with any law enforcement or NCAA investigation into the matter.”

The indictment states that a $100,000 payment was made to “Player-10,” who was considered a top recruit in his class and did not seem to favor University-6 as his final choice.

Player-10 announced “on or about June 3” his college choice, the indictment said. Five-star recruit Brian Bowen tweeted on June 3 that he would be attending the University of Louisville.

U of L Athletics has made no statement.