

The game was the culmination of a weeklong cultural and sports exchange involving the student athletes.īefore the players’ release, LiAngelo Ball’s father, LaVar, had said in a statement on social media that the Chinese judicial process could take months. The Bruins, ranked 23rd nationally, will play a home game Wednesday night against Central Arkansas.ĭays before the game in Shanghai, the Bruins were in Hangzhou to visit the headquarters of Alibaba, the e-commerce giant that sponsored Saturday’s contest. Trump’s request was first reported by the Washington Post.īall – a brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball – Riley and Hill are scheduled to speak to reporters at UCLA on Wednesday morning, along with UCLA head coach Steve Alford and athletic director Dan Guerrero, the school said. “Finally, we want to thank the President, the White House and the US State Department for their efforts towards resolution.” “We also want to acknowledge UCLA’s significant efforts on behalf of their student-athletes. “We are grateful for the role that our Chinese hosts played, and for the courtesy and professionalism of the local authorities,” Scott said. Scott acknowledged Trump, among others, in his statement. Trump told reporters that Xi had been helpful in working to resolve the case.

UCLA’s trip coincided with Trump’s two-day state visit to the Chinese capital, Beijing, as part of his 13-day trip to Asia. But Trump said Tuesday that he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help. Scott did not say how the case was resolved a conviction of grand larceny in China could result in years of prison. They stayed in China as their team returned to the United States over the weekend. The trio had stayed at the hotel, reportedly awaiting next steps in their case, while their teammates went to Shanghai, where UCLA defeated Georgia Tech 63-60 on Saturday. They were questioned on suspicion of stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store near their hotel. The three were arrested last week while their team was in the city of Hangzhou ahead of the squad’s season opener in Shanghai. Trump asked Xi to look at cases of UCLA basketball players
