Suspended UCLA forward LiAngelo Ball has been pulled out of school by father LaVar Ball.
‘We are exploring other options with Gelo,’ LaVar Ball told ESPN. ‘He’s out of there.’
Ball was one of three UCLA players to be suspended indefinitely after being arrested for shoplifting in China on November 8 as the Bruins prepared to play their season opener against Georgia Tech in Shanghai.
Eventually LiAngelo and fellow freshman Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were allowed to return to the United States after being forced to stay in China for several days. The students were accused of stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton outlet near the hotel in Hangzhou, where the team was staying.
‘I’m not sitting back and waiting,’ LaVar Ball said. ‘He wasn’t punished this bad in China.’
CLA guard LiAngelo Ball (15) drives to the basket during an college exhibition basketball game between the Cal State Los Angeles and the UCLA Bruins on November 1
LaVar Ball attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on December 3
‘We learned today of LiAngelo Ball’s intention to withdraw from UCLA,’ Bruins coach Steve Alford said in a statement. ‘We respect the decision he and his family have made, and we wish him all the best in the future.’
The school was obviously aware of the decision, but LaVar Ball claimed he had yet to tell UCLA as of Monday afternoon.
‘I haven’t told any of those guys, ‘Lavar told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. ‘They didn’t tell me anything, so why am I gonna tell them?’
LiAngelo is the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, the second pick of the 2017 NBA Draft who also attended UCLA.
Considered the lowest-rated recruit of UCLA’s freshman class, the 6ft5 LiAngelo was given three out of five stars on ESPN’s college basketball recruiting page, which criticized his lack of lateral quickness and overall defense.
LiAngelo Ball speaks to the media during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion
But despite the perceived limits of LiAngelo’s potential as a basketball player, LaVar insisted he would prepare his son to reach the NBA.
‘I’m going to make him way better for the draft than UCLA ever could have,’ he said.
‘He’s not transferring to another school,’ LaVar added. ‘The plan is now to get Gelo ready for the NBA draft.’
That plan may not come to fruition.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, LiAngelo has ‘no chance’ at being drafted in June, and ‘that was true before his shoplifting incident in China.’
‘He’s not on any of our scouting lists — even the extended lists,’ on NBA general manager told Wojnarowski.
Like he did with LiAngelo, LaVar Ball previously pulled youngest son LaMelo Ball out of high school school earlier this year.
LaMelo – currently a high school junior and considered the biggest prospect of the three Ball brothers – was removed from Chino Hills High School so he could become ‘the best basketball player ever,’ according to father LaVar.
LaVar told The Los Angeles Times in early October that LaMelo would leave Chino Hills High School so he would have fewer distractions and better focus.
Last season, LaMelo drew national attention by scoring 92 points in a game for Chino Hills.
LaMelo plays on LaVar’s traveling team, Big Baller Brand, which is associated with LaVar’s apparel company of the same name.
[LiAngelo is] not on any of our scouting lists — even the extended lists
One NBA general manager to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
LaMelo was expected to attend UCLA, like his older two brothers, but one source told ESPN that his commitment to the Bruins will likely be vacated. Furthermore, LaMelo’s eligibility remains in question after LaVar’s apparel company announced its intention to make a signature shoe that would be endorsed by his youngest son.
LaVar’s Big Baller Brand’s seakers in price from $220 to one pair that costs $995.
Lonzo currently has his own signature shoe while LaMelo’s is on its way – the MB1, which costs $395, is available for pre-order and will ship sometime this month.
Hill and Riley could still return to the Bruins.
‘It’s really on the school,’ UCLA coach Steve Alford said last week. ‘It’s in that process now. When that process ends, I’m sure the administration will bring me in.’
The players are subject to review for violating the university’s Student Conduct Code, which includes a section on theft.
‘I don’t know all the ins and outs of how that takes place or the length of time. I don’t think we’re talking about months,’ Alford said. ‘We’ll get feedback after that is over.’
As part of their indefinite suspensions, the players aren’t allowed to suit up, practice or travel with the Bruins, who are 7-1 and dropped out of the Top 25 last week.
Ball, Hill and Riley publicly apologized for their transgression while reading prepared statements at a campus news conference on Nov. 15.
Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball, Tina Ball, LaVar Ball and LiAngelo Ball attend Melo Ball’s 16th Birthday
Ball (center), Cody Riley (left) and Jalen Hill (right) met with the media at a news conference on UCLA’s campus, accepted responsibility for their actions and apologized