UCLA Frosh LiAngelo Ball Remains In China On Shoplifting Charges As Team Departs

deadline.com ^ | November 12, 2017 | by Bruce Haring

[11th_VA]

The UCLA basketball team is heading home to Los Angeles from China without star freshman LiAngelo Ball, who is accused of shoplifting and is being detained. And it may be a while before Ball rejoins them, as new evidence in his case has surfaced.

ESPN is reporting that there is surveillance footage of Ball and fellow UCLA freshmen players Jalen Hill and Cody Riley shoplifting from three stores inside a retail center near the team hotel in Hangzhou, China. The players have spoken with police and are currently confined to their hotel while the investigation continues.

China’s justice system moves slowly, but its conviction rates are high (as in 99 percent for shoplifting offenses) and the penalties are often stiff. In this case, the players could face up to 10 years in prison.

However, ESPN claims that the situation will likely take “a week or two” to be resolved. Ball is part of the fabled basketball family that includes father LaVar (whose Ball in the Family reality show airs on Facebook and who is regularly parodied by Kenan Thompson on Saturday Night Live); Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball; and high school basketball sensation LaMelo Ball, who is already committed to UCLA.

[MrEdd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrz_qowIIbQ

Some cogent advice from Sammy Davis Jr.

[libertylover]

Only way I’ll be amazed is if UCLA cuts them loose.

UCLA should tell them they're dismissed from the team, and missed school work will be considered an inexcusable absence since it was due to criminal activity, and they can make their own way back (if they choose), none of which is likely to happen.

UCLA shouldn't pay for return tickets back to L.A. I looked up the fare expecting the one-way fare to be $2000-3000. I was astonished to find that Delta offers a ticket at $381.

[Polyxene]

“Send him to North Korea so he can see true oppression.”

Just what I was thinking.

[Former Proud Canadian]

When you are a star basketball player for UCLA, your brother is in the NBA, your father is insane, and you live in a jurisdiction where the police, I'm told, don't even respond to a shoplifting report, what's a few sunglasses?

These kids live a privileged life that doesn't require them to live by the rules the rest of us do. They are about to be introduced to reality.

[1malumprohibitum]

I hope each one gets the full 10 and serves it. So sick of idiot criminals getting a pass because they can play a stupid game.

[dainbramaged]

Two of these idiots are 6'-10" and the third is 6'-5".
I've never shoplifted anything in my life, but inconspicuousness should be part of the plan and that's not going to work with giants in a foreign land. The stupidity here is weapons grade.

[Rummyfan]

China’s justice system moves slowly, but its conviction rates are high (as in 99 percent for shoplifting offenses) and the penalties are often stiff. In this case, the players could face up to 10 years in prison.

I hope, if nothing else, these dimwit lowlifes learn something from this. They have shamed themselves, UCLA, and our country.

[dfwgator]

Maybe we need the NFL to schedule some games in China.

[jiggyboy]

ESPN claims that the situation will likely take “a week or two” to be resolved.

Uh huh. I'm thinking "claims" means "hopes". And if he's hoping that "resolved" means "put on a plane to LAX", he better brace for the possibility that "resolved" in China could have any number of meanings, and associated timeframes, from "formally charged" to "put on trial" to "sentenced" to "jailed".

[fungoking]

Great player, season hadn’t started yet and already leads the team in steals.

[clintonh8r]

Write if you get work!

[Rummyfan]

The stupidity here is weapons grade.

Indeed.

[Ezekiel]

Ball is part of the fabled basketball family that includes father LaVar (whose Ball in the Family reality show airs on Facebook and who is regularly parodied by Kenan Thompson on Saturday Night Live); Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball; and high school basketball sensation LaMelo Ball, who is already committed to UCLA.

Somebody sure dropped the ball in this family. Now folks are having a ball at their expense.

[clintonh8r]

Dat wunt no shopsliftins. Dat wud entitlement!

[DeFault User]

Let me check my handbook of Made-up Names.

Maybe we should add: Loosey Ball

[Red Badger]

I guess no one ever told them that shop-lifting in China is frowned upon...................

[The Deplorable Miss Lemon]

Maybe his credit card would have been? He should have tried it, but I doubt that actually paying for something did not occur to this entitled rich kid.

[Ezekiel]

They must have thought that even the laws in China are fake.

In order to bounce right back, they’ll have to learn to roll with it.

[Responsibility2nd]

Write if you get work!

____________________________________

lolol

Slip a note in an I-Phone headed for the US.

[subterfuge]

UCLA’s basketball team was still going to suck, regardless of the detainment.