Bloggies
LiAngelo Ball and Teammates Return Home to LA (VIDEO)
UCLA freshman basketball player LiAngelo Ball and two teammates returned to the U.S. Tuesday night after being detained in China for about a week after being accused of shoplifting.
Ball, along with teammates Jalen Hill and Cody Riley arrived at Los Angeles International Airport Tuesday after being permitted to return to the U.S. after the incident being resolved the matter has been “resolved to the satisfaction of the Chinese authorities,” according to a statement released by the Pac-12 conference.
According to TMZ, police have dropped the charges against the student-athletes. However, it’s unclear whether or not they will face further punishment from UCLA.
Ball’s detainment became an international issue, as President Donald Trump personally asked the Chinese president for help in resolving the matter.
“We want to thank the President, the White House and the U.S. State Department for their efforts towards resolution,” the Pac-12 Commissioner said in a statement.
The UCLA Men’s Basketball team has a game in LA tonight versus Central Arkansas and Friday versus South Caroline State. It’s not clear if Ball, Hill or Riley will play in either of those games.
Ball is the younger brother of NBA rookie standout guard Lonzo Ball, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.
UCLA basketball players swarmed by reporters as they return to Los Angeles after spending a week under house arrest in China amid shoplifting allegations. https://t.co/RXAscxPWnP pic.twitter.com/OyQRGiYaJm
— ABC News (@ABC) November 15, 2017
Pres. Trump on UCLA basketball players in China: “President Xi has been terrific on that subject, but that was not a good subject. That was not something that should have happened.” https://t.co/lENbZmg7uS pic.twitter.com/Twa7hOK2mF
— ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2017