President Donald Trump expected gratitude, and that's exactly what he got.
LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill, and Cody Riley apologized Wednesday for shoplifting at a mall in China during a recent trip, and thanked Trump for his role in keeping them out of jail and helping them return to American soil.
"I'm grateful for this UCLA team that stood strong beside us and made it possible for me to be sitting here in front of you all today," said Ball while addressing the media. "I respect and admire all of the hard work that they put in to get us back to the United States. I would also like to thank President Trump and the United States government for the help that they provided, as well.
"I'm grateful to be home, and I'll never make a mistake like this again."
Hill expressed similar sentiments, thanking Trump, the Pac-12, and the UCLA community.
The three student-athletes have been suspended indefinitely by the program, and won't dress for games or travel with the team for the time being.
"These are good young men who have exercised an inexcusable lapse of judgment. And now, they have to live with that," said head coach Steve Alford.
Trump, who was in China as part of a 13-day tour of Asia, reached out to Chinese President Xi Jinping for assistance in reaching a resolution with the UCLA players.
