UCLA Men’s Basketball team members LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley will share statements with the media, after they were detained in China for allegedly shoplifting.
Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Alford and Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero also will provide remarks at Pauley Pavilion.
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3 UCLA players face punishment at home after China incident
Three UCLA basketball players detained in China on suspicion of shoplifting returned home, where they may be disciplined by the school as a result of the international scandal.
Freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late Tuesday afternoon after a 12-hour flight from Shanghai. They ignored reporters’ shouted questions while making their way through a horde of media outside and getting into a van that took off from the departure level.
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said the matter “has been resolved to the satisfaction of the Chinese authorities.”
The players were detained in Hangzhou for questioning following allegations of shoplifting last week before the 23rd-ranked Bruins beat Georgia Tech in their season-opening game in Shanghai as part of the Pac-12 China game. The rest of the UCLA team returned home last Saturday.
A person with knowledge of the Pac-12′s decision said any discipline involving the trio would be up to UCLA. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conference doesn’t plan any sanctions.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said the school is weighing its options.
Trump asks whether UCLA players will thank him for release
President Donald Trump is asking whether three UCLA basketball players released from detention in China will thank him.
Trump said he raised their case with China’s president when he visited Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) in Beijing last week.
Freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday and ignored questions from reporters. Trump returned late Tuesday from a trip through Asia and tweeted Wednesday: “Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!”
The players were detained in Hangzhou (hahn-joh) following allegations of shoplifting last week before a game against Georgia Tech in Shanghai.
Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott has thanked Trump, the White House and the State Department for their efforts.