Watch: UCLA basketball players thank President Trump for release

WASHINGTON — UCLA basketball freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley thanked President Donald Trump Wednesday after the players were released from detention in China after getting caught shoplifting.

The three players read statements apologizing for their “stupid” mistake and said they were embarrassed. They also thanked Trump for helping them get back to the United States.

This all comes after Trump asked Wednesday morning on Twitter whether the three UCLA players would thank him for helping release them from detention. He said he raised their case with China’s president when he visited Xi Jinping in Beijing last week.

Ball, Hill and Riley returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday and ignored questions from reporters. Trump returned late Tuesday from a trip through Asia and tweeted Wednesday: “Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!”

The players were detained in Hangzhou following allegations of shoplifting last week before a game against Georgia Tech in Shanghai.

Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott has thanked Trump, the White House and the State Department for their efforts.

UCLA coach Steve Alford said they will remain suspended indefinitely and will not travel nor dress for games.