The father of UCLA guard LiAngelo Ball says he plans to withdraw his son from the school because of his indefinite suspension for his participation in a shoplifting incident during a trip to China.
Ball, along with teammates Jalen Hill and Cody Riley, have been barred from all team activities as part of their suspension for shoplifting from three high-end stores last month when UCLA opened its season overseas.
His father LaVar Ball told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that he's going to explore other options for LiAngelo because "I'm not going to let him sit back and not practice."
The elder Ball says he hasn't spoken to the school about withdrawing his son. "I'm taking him and I'm gone," he told the Times.
"We learned today of LiAngelo Ball's intention to withdraw from UCLA," 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."
LiAngelo Ball's older brother Lonzo plays in the NBA with the LA Lakers.
Asked if LiAngelo agreed with the decision, the elder Ball told the Times, "My boy is loyal to me. I tried to let UCLA deal with the process and he should have been playing the next week."
Ball, Hill and Riley publicly apologised for their transgression while reading prepared statements last month.
LaVar Ball and US President Donald Trump have engaged in a public war of words since the three players returned from China after Ball minimised Trump's involvement in winning the players' release from the Chinese jail.
