Team returns from China without 3 arrested

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA basketball team is heading back to Los Angeles without three players arrested on shoplifting charges in China, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were to remain in Hangzhou, China, while the rest of the team was due back Saturday night. Ball is the brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie

Lonzo Ball.

UCLA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by the AP.

No. 21 UCLA won its season-opening game 63-60 over Georgia Tech in Shanghai earlier Saturday.

The trio was questioned by police about allegedly stealing from a Louis Vuitton store next to the team’s hotel in Hangzhou last week, where the Bruins visited before leaving for Shanghai.

Citing a source with firsthand knowledge of the investigation, ESPN reported the players could remain in Hangzhou for “a week or two” while the situation is resolved. The source told ESPN there is surveillance footage of the players shoplifting from three stores inside a high-end retail center.

Bruins Coach Steve Alford declined to discuss the matter after the team’s victory.