The three students were reportedly released on bail but were ordered to stay at the team's hotel until the legal process concludes.
When reporters asked LaVar Ball about the situation on Tuesday, the outspoken father of Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo told ESPN that LiAngelo will "be fine" and that the incident "ain't that big a deal".
No further information about the UCLA players' status beyond Saturday's game in China was immediately released. While the three athletes remained in Hangzhou, the rest of UCLA's Bruins basketball team continued their trek to Shanghai to play Georgia Tech on Friday.
Ball, the younger brother of National Basketball Association rookie Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers, declined to comment when reached by phone at his hotel on Wednesday.
UCLA, one of the United States' premier college basketball programs, says the university is cooperating fully with local authorities.
Chinese foreign ministry officials previously said that the Chinese government had reported the incident to U.S. officials.
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, meanwhile, said the conference is "very disappointed" by any actions that would detract from a positive cross-cultural experience.
Ball, Riley and Hill were questioned about allegedly stealing from a Louis Vuitton store during the team's visit to Hangzhou, home of the game's sponsor, e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. According to Chinese lawyers who spoke with Yahoo Sports, the players could face 3-10 years for shoplifting under Chinese law.
"We are aware of a situation involving UCLA student-athletes in Hangzhou, China", UCLA said in a statement.
News of the incident broke as US President Donald Trump landed in China, part of a trip to five Asian nations.
Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, as quiet as he is, has become a central figure in the attention-generating Ball Family hype machine run by LaVar Ball.
Lavar also predicted all his sons will eventually play for the Lakers. Its first sneaker, the ZO2, raised eyebrows when it was priced at $495.
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