Just hours after Outside the Lines furthered the reporting in the Louisville Cardinals' basketball scandal, coach Rick Pitino received some good news: a commitment from 2016 guard Frankie Hughes.
Hughes announced his decision at a news conference that had been in the works for almost two weeks.
"I talked to the kid and wanted to see what he was thinking," Sonny Johnson, Hughes' high school coach, told ESPN.com. "He said, 'Coach, it's two sides to every story. I want to go to Louisville and play for Coach Pitino and I believe in Coach Pitino.'"
The timing raised some eyebrows, given the news that came out Tuesday morning. Five former Louisville players and recruits told Outside the Lines that they attended parties on Louisville's campus that included strippers paid for by former graduate assistant Andre McGee. One of the former players said he had sex with one of the strippers, paid for by McGee.
Outside the Lines also interviewed former escort Katina Powell, whose book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen," was published earlier this month. Powell has said that McGee paid $10,000 over a period from 2010 to 2014 for strippers and sex parties.
Louisville has not commented on the case, but Pitino has maintained that he did not know about the allegations.
"The coach hasn't lied to him," Johnson said. "The coach said he didn't know about it, and the kid said he's going to be loyal to coach. You got one person saying one story and the other side is not able to comment. Until you hear their side of it, you have to believe in the coach that recruited you."
Louisville wasn't much of a factor in Hughes' recruitment, but the Cardinals became involved about a month ago and offered him a scholarship two weeks ago. Hughes also visited Louisville's campus two weeks ago. Saint Joseph's, Wisconsin and Missouri were among the other schools in the mix for Hughes.
"Playing for a legendary coach," Johnson said. "They're looking for a shooter, someone who can knock down shots. That's what he can do.
"He fits in very well. Coach Pitino has coached a ton of pros. There's an expectation that he's won championships, and he's going to push you and get the best out of you."
A 6-foot-3 guard from Garfield Heights (Ohio), Hughes is Louisville's second commitment in the 2016 class, joining five-star wing V.J. King (No. 27 in the ESPN 100).
Johnson told ESPN.com that he expects Hughes to sign a letter of intent during the early signing period next month.