Escort tells all about sex parties

Escort Katina Powell broke her silence on Tuesday, saying she has no proof that Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino knew that a former Cardinals staffer hired her and other dancers to strip and have sex with former recruits and players.

But Powell said in an interview aired on ABC’s Good Morning America that with “a boatload” of recruits and dancers, “loud music, alcohol, security, cameras” in a campus dormitory, “how could Rick not know?”

In her first interview since the release of her book earlier this month, Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen, Powell said the coach had to be aware of some of 22 shows she alleges former staffer Andre McGee paid her for from 2010-14.

Pitino has denied knowledge of the activities Powell alleges in her book.

Former Cardinals recruit JaQuan Lyle, now an Ohio State freshman, confirmed the “gist of allegations” detailed in Powell’s book during a meeting earlier this month with the NCAA, CBS Sports reported. OSU confirmed Lyle spoke with the NCAA.

Powell alleges McGee, who played for Louisville before becoming a graduate assistant coach and director of men’s basketball operations, paid her $10,000 for the 22 shows. The dancers included Powell, her three daughters and other women, according to the book.

“Andre would come to me and tell me what girl the recruit wanted,” Powell said Tuesday, “and I would tell the girl. She would say her price, I would tell him, he would say, ‘OK’, give me the money. That was just it. He would take them into another room, and her and the recruit would do what they did behind closed doors.”