3 UCLA players arrested for shoplifting in China

[Da Coach]

The UCLA men's basketball team is in Hangzhou, China because they play their season opening game against Georgia Tech at the Baoshan Sports Centre on Saturday, in the neighboring city of Shanghai.

http://www.uclabruins.com/news/2017/11/3/mens-basketball-no-18-ucla-to-face-georgia-tech-in-china.aspx

But 3 of their players, LiAngelo Ball (brother of Los Angeles Lakers player Lonzo Ball), Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, all freshmen, were arrested for shoplifting.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21331147/ucla-players-liangelo-ball-cody-riley-jalen-hill-arrested-china-shoplifting-charges

UCLA released their standard response:
"We are aware of a situation involving UCLA student-athletes in Hangzhou, China. The University is cooperating fully with local authorities on this matter, and we have no further comment at this time."

[Da Coach]

It would be easy to understand why LiAngelo Ball might resort to shoplifting while on his team's trip to China.
Look at the old beater of a car he is forced to drive- a brand new $300,000 2017 Ferrari courtesy of his older brother and his father.

http://ballislife.com/check-out-liangelo-balls-new-ferrari/

Maybe we can all post pictures of our first cars to show sympathy for these poor college kids.
Here was my first car by comparison. A beat up four door, 4-speed on the column, 6-cylinder high mileage Chevrolet sedan, and I had to share it with my brother.

[tornado]

Hey, don't gripe, I was the one who always had to push it while you popped the clutch

[Da Coach]

Because you couldn't drive a standard shift.

I am not griping. I felt lucky to have any car. It helped me get a job, and start making money.

[tornado]

Atlanta paper claiming three Georgia Tech players also were thought to be involved, apprehended and questioned, but
they were released and cleared...
it also suggests that the Chinese police boarded the UCLA team bus, forced everyone off, searched the cargo compartment and apparently then found the evidence of the shoplifting.

http://www.myajc.com/sports/college/chinese-police-question-clear-georgia-tech-players/4yROH1OaRv4zBPAiHOod9O/

[Da Coach]

Update- apparently the UCLA players stole Louis Vuitton bags from a shop, and were caught-

https://twitter.com/TheDonaldGeeNBA/status/928013236917616641

[Da Coach]

I can't take credit for this joke-

https://twitter.com/ImAntonioLopez/status/928020237680656384

LiAngelo Ball already No. 1 in steals in college basketball

[Da Coach]

Update on the story- ESPN is reporting that the 3 UCLA players arrested in China shoplifted from 3 "high-end" stores in a shopping mall next to the team hotel. The 3 freshmen will remain in China, as the team returns to the US.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21370055/three-ucla-players-arrested-shoplifting-charges-fly-home-team

[Da Coach]

President Trump trying to intervene to resolve this case of the 3 UCLA freshmen basketball players who felt it was necessary to shoplift some sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store in China.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21400082/president-donald-trump-asks-chinese-president-xi-jinping-help-ucla-bruins-case7c

For the record, penalties for theft in China are quite severe, between 3-10 years in jail. The players were released on bail (paid by UCLA) but they are commanded to remain in China until this matter is resolved. If a Chinese citizen had done what they did, there would be no bail offered, and they would almost certainly spend years in jail.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2743080-liangelo-ball-reportedly-could-face-3-10-years-in-jail-for-shoplifting-in-china

There are reports that this matter is getting close to a resolution that would allow the 3 players to leave China and return to the US with fine and a slap on the wrist.

[Chico]

They should get the same punishment as a Chinese citizen.

[egib52]

This is definitely a black eye for not only UCLA, but US citizens. I would hope that UCLA would at minimum cut the players and revoke their scholarships, however I am sure the punishment will be having to miss a few games before conference season.

[pfcmsh]

Yes it is a bad reflection on America. I hope they are penalized as a Chinese citizen would be. Too much entitlement in many American athletes. College or otherwise.

[tornado]

I hear ya, but there's gurus calling for them to all be dismissed from the team & even expelled from school....
There's plenty of teams whose kids assault women, get caught for armed robbery, start bar brawls, steal cars, and get arrested multiple times for drugs - and barely miss a second of a practice - let alone miss games!
This is shoplifting, I think the kids deserve some stern discipline then a short leash, but definitely a 2nd chance.

[pfcmsh]

Yeah, I am for 2nd chances too. Most of us have needed them in one form or another. What if they do it again?

[tornado]

Yeah, I am for 2nd chances too. Most of us have needed them in one form or another. What if they do it again?

The players are all now fully reinstated...
except of course the one who has left the University