UCLA suspends Cody Riley, Jalen Hill for rest of season

Jalen Hill (left) and Cody Riley have been suspended through the 2017-18 season for shoplifting in China. (Photos by Hans Gutknecht/SCNG)

Cody Riley and Jalen Hill have been suspended for the rest of the year, UCLA announced Friday, extending the freshman forwards’ indefinite suspensions after a five-week investigation from the school’s Office of Student Conduct.

The pair of local products will not be allowed to travel or suit up for home games, but can resume practicing and going to meetings on Dec. 26 after they were arrested for shoplifting from multiple stores in China last month.

“I’ve told our players all along that actions have consequences, and the season-long suspension shows how seriously we take their misconduct,” head coach Steve Alford said in a statement. “Though they will not suit up for games or travel with the team, I look forward to their return after the Christmas holiday. I am confident that they will make significant contributions to the university moving forward.”

The Bruins now have the final word on their roster going forward with Pac-12 play starting next week. They finish the nonconference slate on Saturday in New Orleans against No. 7 Kentucky at 1 p.m. PT on CBS.

More on the suspensions and UCLA’s nonconference finale.

Steve Alford expects resolution to UCLA shoplifting investigation soon

UCLA coach Steve Alford shouts to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cal State Bakersfield in Los Angeles Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. UCLA won 75-66. (Reed Saxon/AP)

UCLA is already free from the Ball Family drama and it will soon be able to move on from the international shoplifting scandal that struck five weeks ago.

Head coach Steve Alford said Thursday he expects a resolution to the student conduct investigation involving freshmen Jalen Hill and Cody Riley within one week and as early as the end of this week. When the final decision comes from UCLA’s Office of Student Conduct, Alford will be involved in any possible further discipline pertaining to the basketball team for the two freshmen who were arrested, along with LiAngelo Ball, for shoplifting in Hangzhou, China last month.

“It’s just one more of those distractions that we get behind us,” Alford said Thursday before the Bruins face No. 25 Cincinnati on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion. “The guys in the locker room have had nothing to with any of it. So that’s why I’m very pleased with where we’re at. … This young team has had to deal with a lot, but we’re 7-2, playing well.” Continue reading “Steve Alford expects resolution to UCLA shoplifting investigation soon” »

Video: UCLA basketball players, Steve Alford, Dan Guerrero address media after China incident

Guard LiAngelo Ball, forwards Jalen Hill and Cody Riley, head coach Steve Alford and athletic director Dan Guerrero addressed the media Wednesday in a news conference about the shoplifting incident in China last weekend. Everyone read a prepared statement and did not take questions.

Due to technical difficulties, Riley is not included on the following video, but hit the jump for a transcript of the Sierra Canyon alumnus’ statement:

Cody Riley: Continue reading “Video: UCLA basketball players, Steve Alford, Dan Guerrero address media after China incident” »

Donald Trump tweets about UCLA basketball players

LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, the UCLA men’s basketball players who were detained in China for a week on suspicion of shoplifting, will read statements to the media on Wednesday after returning to the country Tuesday. President Donald Trump, who said he personally asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for assistance on the case, is looking forward to what the players have to say: