UCLA Basketball: Bruins out on bail, LaVar Ball arrives in China
After their ordeal in a shoplifting scandal involving a Louis Vuitton store in China, the three Bruins that were arrested have been released on bail. Additionally, LaVar Ball has arrived in China and commented on the situation involving his son LiAngelo Ball.
The latest information coming out of China is that the three UCLA Basketball players that were arrested for allegedly shoplifting have been released on bail.
RELATED: 3 UCLA Basketball players arrested in China
Yesterday it was reported that UCLA freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were involved in an incident involoving a Louis Vuitton store near the team’s hotel in Hangzhou, China.
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According to Arash Markazi of ESPN, the three players were released on bail around 4 a.m. and, “are being required by Hangzhou police to remain at the hotel until the legal process is over.”
Markazi also got confirmation from UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford that Ball, Hill and Riley would not play Friday night in the Bruin’s season opener against Georgia Tech.
Due to the nature of this incident, despite being detained by Chinese police indefinitely, we can expect that all three will receive suspensions from the program.
UCLA has not commented further outside of their initial statement in regards to the matter. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott had also released a statement:
"Yesterday in Hangzhou, China, UCLA student-athletes were involved in a situation, and UCLA is cooperating fully with local authorities. We are directing all inquiries about the specifics of this matter to UCLA. We are very disappointed by any situation that detracts from the positive student-athlete educational and cultural experience that this week is about. Whether in the United States or abroad, we expect our student-athletes to uphold the highest standards. We will continue to closely monitor the situation."
Additionally, father of one of the accused, LaVar Ball, has arrived in China. His initial reason for the trip was to watch his son play in Shanghai on Friday, but his itinerary changed a bit with his son being accused of shoplifting.
LaVar Ball said, "I'm going to wait until I get more intel on what's going on" before he comments on LiAngelo Ball's arrest but said he's not worried. "He'll be fine," he said. "Everyone's making it a big deal. It ain't that big a deal." pic.twitter.com/E7QuMaMsNU
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 8, 2017
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As always, Ball tries to give things a twist, but it might not be as big of a non-issue as he thinks as the three players, if convicted, could spend 3 to 10 years in a Chinese prison. It is also being reported by Scout.com that the three players could be in China for month while the legal process takes shape.