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NCAA interviewed Ohio State's JaQuan Lyle about Louisville recruitment

NCAA investigators interviewed Ohio State freshman guard JaQuan Lyle on Tuesday about his recruitment by Louisville, an Ohio State spokesman confirmed to Yahoo Sports.

Dan Wallenberg, Ohio State associate athletic director for communications, said the NCAA spoke with Lyle in regards to allegations made in a new book about potential rules violations within the Louisville basketball program. The book, “Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen,” was published last week. Co-author Katina Powell alleges that a Louisville staffer paid her to provide escorts to dance for and have sex with players and recruits.

JaQuan Lyle (Rivals)
JaQuan Lyle (Rivals)

Louisville and the NCAA are investigating allegations that could be major violations as well as illegal. As part of the investigation, NCAA staff met with Lyle on Tuesday, the day before Ohio State opened practice for the 2015-16 season.

IBJ Book Publishing, which published Powell’s expose, provided Yahoo Sports with some text messages it had that purportedly were discussions between Powell and Louisville director of basketball operations Andre McGee. One of them referred to Lyle, who as a high schooler made an unofficial visit to Louisville in early June 2013.

This was Powell’s journal entry relating to a show allegedly done for Lyle:

“Been a long time since we’ve been up to U of L to do a show. McGee texted me like, what’s up? He wanted me to bring three girls up there for a new recruit named JaQuan Lyle, he and his friend. I took (escorts) Rod-Ni, TooTall, Jazmine and Shay, who calls herself Sammi. TooTall made $100, Shay made $100, and Jazzy made nothing because she did absolutely nothing."

On Monday, June 10, 2013, Powell allegedly texted McGee: “Hey Andre what was the name of the recruit the tall chic was with Saturday.” McGee allegedly responded: “jaquan lyles (sic) ... some other dudes is looking for tall chick.” The book says that was part of a 22-text exchange between Powell and McGee pertaining to Lyle’s visit.

On June 26, 2013, Lyle verbally committed to Louisville. By September he had de-committed. In June 2014, Lyle was included on the published roster at Oregon, but by September he was dropped from the roster and not enrolled at the school. He eventually committed to Ohio State on June 30, 2015.

Wallenberg said the school is not concerned about Lyle’s eligibility.

“It does not affect us or JaQuan at all,” Wallenberg said. “We’ve been told, and are pretty confident, this is not something we need to worry about.”

Lyle is at least the second non-Cardinal the NCAA has interviewed about being recruited by Louisville. LSU freshman Antonio Blakeney has been interviewed as well, according to multiple reports.

Patricia Keiffner, IBJ publisher, told Yahoo Sports that it had informed Louisville of the texts between McGee and Powell but did not show the texts to school officials.

“We suggested that they ask Andre for his phone because he would have information that Katina wouldn’t have as he made arrangements,” Keiffner said.

Neither Powell nor McGee have spoken publicly since the book was released Saturday.