House arrest in China hotel likely for Ball, UCLA ’mates
The punishment for three UCLA basketball players, who are accused of shoplifting in China, is starting to become clearer.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported it is likely LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley will serve 20 days of house arrest in their Hangzhou Hyatt Regency for allegedly stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store. The paper’s Ken Sugiura is traveling with Georgia Tech, which plays UCLA in Shanghai on Friday.
The players were released on bail Wednesday, but ordered to stay at the hotel until their legal situation is resolved. The situation had been murky given the strictness of Chinese laws, with some suggesting the trio could spend three to 10 years in prison.
But Jerome Cohen, faculty director of New York University’s U.S.-Asia Law Institute, told USA Today the fact the players were released on bail and allowed to leave
police custody was a “very good sign” they would be given a light sentence.
“This shows they’re getting special treatment,” Cohen told the paper. “Normally, the Chinese do not give bail, certainly not this early in a case that they’re going to prosecute. … It usually is only given at the convenience of the police.”
The fact Ball is part of the new first family of basketball has added attention to the case. His trashtalking father, LaVar Ball, and younger brother, LaMelo, were in China with the team.
“I’m going to wait until I get more intel on what’s going on,” LaVar told ESPN on Wednesday. “He’ll be fine. Everyone’s making it a big deal. It ain’t that big a deal.”
It appears LaVar’s words may be prophetic, though it’s unclear when the three freshman hoopsters will return to the court and how this situation will affect their careers at UCLA.