NCAA sanctions unlikely to hurt Louisville with recruits

LOUISVILLE, KY. » Rick Pitino and Louisville officials are preparing their appeal to the sanctions the NCAA levied on them after its escorts investigation.

But one would-be elephant in the room they don’t have to deal with is a postseason ban. That is a reprieve of sorts from the NCAA that allows the program to move forward on the court and the recruiting trail.

There are other sanctions looming one day after the governing body docked the program four scholarships over the next four years, restricted recruiting and suspended Pitino for five Atlantic Coast Conference games. School officials said Thursday they will appeal the penalties.

Louisville, however, has operated under its own restrictions for over a year following its own investigation of Katina Powell’s allegations that she and other escorts were hired to have sex parties and strip for Louisville recruits and players. The university’s self-imposed penalties included a 2016 postseason ban that seems to have had little effect on Louisville’s recruiting standing with an incoming class ranked in the top 10 nationally by several services.

Not to mention, a promising outlook down the road.

“Everyone’s known what happened, the transgressions that took place, and Louisville’s recruiting has been just as good as it’s ever been,” 247Sports scouting director Jerry Meyer said.

“It’s kind of odd. You think it’d have a negative impact. It just seems logical. But it’s been a very counterintuitive situation.”

Louisville is ranked sixth nationally in composite rankings of recruiting services compiled by 247Sports. Its 2018 class is ranked fourth at this point.

The Cardinals’ 2017 class includes the recent addition of high school All-American Brian Bowen, a 6-foot7, 195-pound guard who averaged 20.4 points and 7 rebounds per game last season for La Lumiere High School in La Porte, Indiana. He bolsters a highly touted class featuring 6-11 forward-center Malik Williams; 6-8 forwards Jordan Nwora and Lance Thomas; and 6-2 guard Darius Perry.