Three UCLA basketball players arrested for shoplifting in China have thanked President Trump for helping them to gain their release. LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley each gave statements to the media today after returning from China yesterday afternoon.
Player Cody Riley said he was "ashamed" for letting everyone down. “I want to start off by saying how ashamed and embarrassed I am. The player then took responsibility for shoplifting.
LiAngelo Ball and Jalen Hill both thanked their teammates for standing by them while they were being detailed by Chinese authorities.
Ball also thanked Trump for speaking with the Chinese President. "I'm extremely sorry for those I let down."
The players did not take questions after the press conference.
Bruins' Coach Steve Alford said all three players have been suspended indefinitely from the team.
"These are good young men who have exercised an inexcusable lapse of judgment and now they have to live with that,” Alford said.
Athletic director Dan Guerrero expressed his disappointment in the players as well. "We're very disappointed in the conduct of our three student-athletes. They know they made a huge mistake and as you can see they're deeply sorry for it."
Guerrero told the media that he and Alford met with the players before the trip to remind them of expectations to "prevent a negative situation of any kind."