Georgia Tech basketball coach Josh Pastner has filed a lawsuit alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other charges against a man who claimed he paid some of Pastner’s players with Pastner’s knowledge.



In November, Ron Bell, Pastner’s estranged friend, claimed he gave extra benefits to Tadric Jackson and Josh Okogie and hosted the two at his house for four days in May, and that the coach was aware the players were there on his dime. Georgia Tech subsequently reported the violations to the NCAA and suspended the two players pending a decision. The NCAA ordered Okogie to sit out six games and issued a three-game suspension to Jackson.



In a press release sent to The Fieldhouse and other news outlets on Friday evening, Scott Tompsett, Pastner’s attorney, said that Pastner had no knowledge of the payments. Tompsett also alleged in the release that Bell and Bell’s girlfriend, Jennifer Pendley, attempted to extort...