LiAngelo Ball, one of three UCLA freshman basketball players caught shoplifting in China in November, was pulled out of the Division I program by his father Monday, ESPN reported.
"We are exploring other options with Gelo," LaVar Ball said Monday. "He's out of there."
Ball and two teammates were detained after they were arrested for shoplifting sunglasses. After the athletes' release in China, President Donald Trump sent out a series of tweets taking credit for helping the players avoid prison. But LaVar Ball dismissed Trump's role, telling ESPN, "Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."
LiAngelo Ball has not played in a game since being suspended from the team following his arrest.
"I'm not sitting back and waiting," LaVar Ball told ESPN. "He wasn't punished this bad in China."
"We get back over here, and the consequences were even stiffer than China. So, basically they're in jail here."
UCLA coach Steve Alford issued a statement later Monday.
"We learned [Tuesday] of LiAngelo Ball's intention to withdraw from UCLA," he said. "We respect the decision he and his family have made, and we wish him all the best in the future."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.