Mitch Barnhart says Kentucky not contacted yet about recruits part of Louisville scandal

The Kentucky Wildcats may have a part to play in the allegations the Louisville Cardinals are currently facing of improper (and frankly illegal) recruiting tactics.

Louisville and the NCAA are looking into allegations in a newly published book that former director of basketball operations Andre McGee paid an escort service to provide sex for Cardinals recruits. Though UK may have had no knowledge of what was allegedly going on at Louisville, the NCAA may at least ask them about it at some point.

That's because at least two recruits that were interested in Kentucky were mentioned in the book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen." UK Athletics Director Mich Barnhart says his school has not been contacted yet by the NCAA:

Mitch Barnhart says UK has not been contacted as part of any UofL investigation about players who took recruiting visits there.

— Jon Hale (@JonHale_CJ) October 5, 2015

Barnhart did not want to get into the UofL news but said he hopes allegations are not true. Will have full quote and video soon.

— Jon Hale (@JonHale_CJ) October 5, 2015

The most notable recruit of which UK and UL may be linked is ex-Cardinal commit Antonio Blakeney. He was once thought to be a heavy UK lean after decommitting from the Cardinals before ultimately signing with the LSU Tigers. He visited Kentucky and hosted John Calipari for an in-home visit last year before ultimately going to LSU, where he'll be a freshman this upcoming college basketball season. The NCAA has reportedly met with Blakeney to discuss the allegations, so it may only be a matter of time before UK gets a call about the matter.

Another former UK target that was mentioned in the book was Montrezl Harrell. Back in 2012, Harrell received his release from his Virginia Tech letter of intent after former head coach Seth Greenberg was fired, and Kentucky was among several schools recruiting him in the late signing period before he signed with Louisville. Though he was named in the book, Harrell has already denied the allegations or having any knowledge of the improper recruiting.

"I don’t know anything about any of that," Harrell said via the Houston Chronicle. "Apparently, my name is in there. I don’t have anything to do with that. U of L is doing their job, holding an investigation, looking at it. That’s where I’m leaving it. Simple as that."

Though the investigation has supposedly been going on for over a month, we're probably a long ways away from any closure in this with how long NCAA investigations take. It's probably safe to think UK and other schools who were recruiting the aforementioned players will be contacted and/or meet with NCAA investigators.