LiAngelo Ball and his UCLA teammates Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were caught on video boarding their flight back to the United States.
The three college hoopers were arrested for shoplifting in China last Tuesday and were expected to remain in the country for a few more weeks. However, it seems some strings were pulled to get them out earlier. They were dressed in sweats and UCLA team backpacks and looked extremely calm at the airport.
The charges against the boys were dropped, according to TMZ. President Donald Trump petitioned China’s President Xi Jinping to assist him in guaranteeing their freedom and it seems to have worked. China’s legal system is less forgiving than the U.S.’s and the boys could have been sentenced to 10 years in jail if they were convicted.
LaVar and LaMelo Ball also scheduled an event in Hong Kong where they will give away a free pair of Z02s which also may have helped LiAngelo and friends. The rest of Ball's teammates returned a few days ago, but it’s unclear what will happen to Ball, Hill, and Riley when they return to the United States. Law experts previously told new outlets that it could take months for China to decide what to do with them. The country has a 99 percent conviction rate so they seem to have dodged a serious bullet.
Source: tmz.com
