Report: LiAngelo Ball Among UCLA Players Arrested for Shoplifting in China

Three members of the UCLA Bruins basketball team were arrested in China for allegedly shoplifting, ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman reported Tuesday.

LiAngelo Ball, brother of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, is reportedly among the UCLA players facing legal trouble. According to Goodman, Chinese authorities also arrested freshman forward Cody Riley and freshman forward Jalen Hill.

The alleged theft occurred at a Louis Vuitton location near the hotel the team was staying at, per Goodman. According to a lawyer familiar with Chinese law who spoke with Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, the trio of players will be facing three to 10 years if convicted.

The arrests come days before the Bruins open their season against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday at 11:30 p.m. ET in Shanghai, China.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Ken Sugiura reported Chinese police also questioned three players from the Yellow Jackets before releasing them. Authorities also searched the UCLA team bus and ordered the Bruins players to return to the hotel.

LiAngelo's father, LaVar, was advised not to speak on the matter despite previously scheduling a press conference, per ESPN's Arash Markazi.

"We are aware of the matter involving UCLA student-athletes, and we are gathering more information," UCLA spokesman Alex Timiraos said in a statement provided to Sugiura.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott also released a statement, per Brian Hamilton of The Athletic:

Ball played 16 minutes and scored 11 points in UCLA's exhibition victory over Cal State Los Angeles on Nov. 1. Riley played 18 minutes in the 111-80 win, coming off the bench to finish with eight points, five rebounds and three assists.