China Releases UCLA Players Suspected Of Shoplifting

LOS ANGELES, CA — The three UCLA basketball players arrested in China on suspicion of shoplifting returned home to Los Angeles Tuesday night, according to Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott.

“The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the chinese authorities,” Scott said in a written release. “We are all very pleased that these young men have been allowed to return home to their families and university.”

The freshman players -- LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill -- were detained last Tuesday on suspicion of shoplifting sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store next to the team's hotel in Hangzhou. ESPN reported Monday that Chinese authorities have surveillance video showing the players taking merchandise from as many as three upscale shops.

LiAngelo Ball's brother, Los Angeles Laker Lonzo Ball, told reporters his family had remained in China while the case is pending.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday Chinese President Xi Jinping is helping out regarding three UCLA basketball players suspected of shoplifting

"President Xi has been terrific on that subject," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, bound for Honolulu following the conclusion of his 12- day trip to Asia. "But that was not a good subject. That was not something that should have happened....What they did was unfortunate. You know, you're talking about very long prison sentences. They do not play games."

There was no immediate indication on whether the players will face any punishment from the team or the university.

"I want to be clear that we take seriously any violations of the law," UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said. "We remain one of the world's top academic institutions in large part because of our values and standards, which we work hard to infuse throughout our campus community.

When members of the UCLA family fail to uphold these values, we review these incidents with fair and thorough processes," he said. "In this particular case, both Athletics and the Office of Student Conduct will review this incident and guide any action with respect to the involved students. Such proceedings are confidential, which limits the specific information that can be shared."

Watch Now: China Releases UCLA Players Suspected Of Shoplifting

LiAngelo Ball, brother Lakers Star Lonzo Ball (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

City News Service contributed this report.