Brian Bowen “primarily considered Arizona” in addition to Louisville, his mother told former FBI agent Carl Christianen, according to documents provided by Rick Pitino’s attorney Steve Pence.
“Tugs primarily considered playing for Arizona,” the document reads. “She stated the Arizona coach told Bowen that a couple of players were returning and their return was going to make it difficult for him to start at Arizona.”
Arizona had several returning wing players, including sophomores Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins, both projected NBA picks.
Carrie Malecke, Bowen’s mother, said he was also considering Michigan State, UCLA and Oregon.
On Oct. 10, Rick Pitino’s hired investigators also spoke with Brian Bowen’s mother. #Louisville #L1C4 #UofL #Cards pic.twitter.com/0RBRnXdk08
— Phillip M. Bailey (@phillipmbailey) October 16, 2017
Bowen initially listed a top five of Arizona, Creighton, Michigan State, N.C. State and Texas, but then committed to Louisville seemingly out of nowhere on June 3, after the NCAA late signing period.
The recent FBI complaint named assistants from four colleges, including Arizona’s Book Richardson, and also alleged Adidas arranged to pay Bowen’s family $100,000 in return for his commitment to Louisville and his subsequent signing with Adidas. Richardson and the three other assistants appeared in Magistrate Court last week in New York, and all were released on $100,000 bonds.
Pitino, who was “effectively fired” Sept. 27, has maintained he had no knowledge of the situation and released additional documentation to support his case Tuesday. Among them were documents indicating Pitino took a polygraph test proving he had no knowledge of payments to Bowen’s family, and text messages with Malecke in which she said she was “totally blindsided” by the accusations.
For more on the Bowen situation, read our New York Times story here.
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