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In 2017, three UCLA men's basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for shoplifting. The players were questioned at their hotel while the rest of the team travelled to Shanghai for a game against Georgia Tech. The players were released on bail and returned to the US after intervention from President Trump, who was in Asia at the time of their arrests. Ball admitted to stealing from three stores and issued a public apology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of UCLA basketball players involved | 3 |
| Names of players involved | LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill |
| Items stolen from | Louis Vuitton store |
| Location | Hangzhou, China |
| Year | 2017 |
| Month | November |
| Date | 7th |
| Day of the week | Tuesday |
| Time | 8 a.m. |
| Number of police officers involved | 20 |
| Status of players | Released on bail, suspended indefinitely from UCLA |
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What You'll Learn
- LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were arrested for shoplifting in Hangzhou, China
- The UCLA players stole unspecified merchandise from a Louis Vuitton store
- The players were released on bail and had to stay in their hotel until the legal process was completed
- President Trump intervened with Chinese President Xi Jinping to help negotiate the players' return to the US
- UCLA suspended the players indefinitely and they faced the possibility of expulsion
LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were arrested for shoplifting in Hangzhou, China
UCLA basketball players LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for shoplifting. The freshmen players were questioned at their hotel in Hangzhou while the rest of the UCLA team travelled to Shanghai for a game against Georgia Tech. The players were reportedly caught stealing from a Louis Vuitton store near their hotel. They were released on bail and required to stay at their hotel until the legal process was completed.
According to ESPN's Jeff Goodman, the players were seen entering a police vehicle and did not depart with the rest of the team for Shanghai. UCLA released a statement saying they were aware of a situation involving UCLA student-athletes in Hangzhou, China, and that they were cooperating fully with local authorities.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that police were called to the hotel that the UCLA and Georgia Tech teams were staying at early on Tuesday morning. Three Georgia Tech players were questioned and cleared by local police.
Following the incident, all three players apologized and took full responsibility for their actions. They were suspended from the basketball team indefinitely, with UCLA coach Steve Alford stating that they would need to "earn their way back."
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The UCLA players stole unspecified merchandise from a Louis Vuitton store
In 2017, three UCLA men's basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill, were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for shoplifting. The players were freshmen recruits and were in China for a game against Georgia Tech. The UCLA team was staying at the same hotel as the Georgia Tech players, and the police were called to the hotel early on Tuesday morning. Twenty police officers arrived at the hotel and questioned both teams, sequestering them in a room for hours. The UCLA players were then seen entering a police vehicle and were released on bail. They were required to stay at their hotel until the legal process was completed.
The players were accused of stealing unspecified merchandise from a Louis Vuitton store located near their hotel. It was later reported that they had stolen from three stores, not just one as originally reported. Ball, the highest-profile player involved, admitted to stealing and publicly apologized, saying, "I'd like to start off by saying sorry for stealing from the stores in China. I'm a young man, but it's not an excuse for making a really stupid decision." The players also thanked President Trump, who intervened with Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate their return to the U.S.
The incident caused a scandal, and the players faced potential expulsion from UCLA. However, they were ultimately suspended indefinitely rather than expelled. The UCLA basketball team returned to Los Angeles without the three players, who remained in China until the legal proceedings were resolved. The players missed the season opener against Georgia Tech in Shanghai due to the incident.
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The players were released on bail and had to stay in their hotel until the legal process was completed
In 2017, three UCLA men's basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill, were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for shoplifting. The players were freshmen recruits and were in China for a game against Georgia Tech. They were accused of stealing from a Louis Vuitton store near their hotel, with police inspecting the team bus and escorting the players for questioning. Twenty police officers were present at the hotel, and the players were seen entering a police vehicle.
The players were subsequently released on bail and were required to remain in their hotel until the legal process was completed. The rest of the UCLA team travelled to Shanghai for their game, while the three players stayed behind in Hangzhou. The players faced potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison for theft in China. However, they were able to return to the US after intervention from President Donald Trump, who appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping for their release.
Upon their return, the players were suspended indefinitely by UCLA and expressed remorse for their actions. Ball, in particular, faced significant public scrutiny due to his high profile and his family's public presence, including a reality show and a sports apparel company. The players thanked President Trump and the US government for their intervention during a press conference.
The incident sparked discussions about the potential consequences of the players' actions, with some speculating about expulsion or a full return to the school. Ultimately, the players were not expelled, and the university worked to resolve the situation while cooperating with local authorities. The players' release and return to the US highlighted the unique circumstances of the case, given the international context and the involvement of high-profile individuals.
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President Trump intervened with Chinese President Xi Jinping to help negotiate the players' return to the US
In 2017, three UCLA men's basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for shoplifting. The freshmen trio was caught attempting to steal items from a Louis Vuitton store near their hotel. As a result, they were questioned and released on bail but were barred from leaving China. They were required to stay at their hotel until the legal process was completed.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought the help of Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate the players' return to the U.S. During his state visit to Beijing in early November, Trump discussed the players' detention with Xi. In a tweet, Trump acknowledged his involvement and asked the players to thank President Xi for their release. According to a White House official, Xi agreed to look into the matter, and the players received relatively light treatment due to Trump's intervention. The players were eventually released and returned to the U.S., but they were suspended from playing indefinitely.
Trump's intervention in the UCLA basketball players' case was part of his efforts to strengthen his relationship with Xi. He has been known to tout his friendship with the Chinese President and has criticized athletes for their perceived lack of gratitude. Trump's request for Xi's assistance in this case highlights the complex dynamics between the two leaders and the potential impact on the players' fate.
The incident involving the UCLA basketball players and their encounter with the Chinese legal system attracted significant media attention. It also brought to light the potential consequences of not fully understanding local laws and cultural differences when travelling abroad. The players expressed remorse for their actions and acknowledged the impact of the incident on their lives and careers.
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UCLA suspended the players indefinitely and they faced the possibility of expulsion
UCLA Bruins basketball players, LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill, were arrested in Hangzhou, China, for shoplifting. The three freshmen were caught stealing "unspecified merchandise" from a Louis Vuitton store near their hotel. The UCLA team was in China for their season opener against Georgia Tech.
Following their arrest, UCLA released a statement saying that they were aware of the situation and cooperating fully with the local authorities. The three players were released on bail but were required to stay at their hotel until the legal process was completed.
Upon their return to campus, the players apologized for their actions at a press conference. Coach Steve Alford announced that the players were being suspended indefinitely from the team. He described them as "good young men" but said they would have to earn their way back onto the team. Alford did not specify exactly what the indefinite suspensions would entail, stating only that the players would not be allowed to suit up, practice, or travel with the team during their suspension. He added that at some point, they may be permitted to join team workouts, meetings, and practices.
Although the players faced the possibility of expulsion from the team, there is no indication that they were expelled from UCLA. The university did not provide any further comments on the matter beyond their initial statement.
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Frequently asked questions
The UCLA basketball boys stole "unspecified merchandise" from a Louis Vuitton store near their hotel in Hangzhou, China.
The three UCLA basketball players involved in the shoplifting incident were LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill.
The three players were released on bail and were required to stay at their hotel in Hangzhou until the legal process was completed. They were suspended indefinitely from the UCLA basketball team and faced the possibility of expulsion from the university.
