UCLA

UCLA basketball is still drawing big stars in the crowd -- even without the Ball family -- with Caitlyn Jenner sitting courtside while the Bruins took on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Jenner sat courtside with her publicist and longtime friend, Alan Nierob -- a UCLA grad who's a big shot on campus (he's on the board of visitors).

Unfortunately for Cait and Alan, the Bruins lost -- perhaps because all 3 players from the infamous China shoplifting fiasco are still not on the court.

As you know ... LiAngelo Ball ain't ever coming back -- he's off to Lithuania ... but his picture is still on the UCLA basketball tickets.

Awkward!!

If anyone can tell us what it's gonna be like for LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball to play in Lithuania, it's NBA big man Jonas Valanciunas ... who's actually PLAYED in the league where the Balls are headed.

Valanciunas -- the 5th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft -- is a Lithuanian legend ... he won the LKL Lithuanian league championship in 2010 and is a 3-time Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year.

So, when we saw Jonas in Bev Hills on Monday (his Raptors are in town to play the Clippers) -- we had to ask if he thinks the Balls will thrive in his home country.

"Great fit in Lithuania," Jonas says ... "perfect country for those guys."

Jonas says people shouldn't be concerned for the Balls -- his country is safe and the food is great.

LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball are breaking their silence about their new venture -- signing with a Lithuanian pro basketball team -- and they insist the money has nothing to do with it.

The Big Baller Brand tweeted photos Monday of LiAngelo and Lamelo signing contracts, saying "It's not about the money for the Ball Brothers."

BBB goes on to say ... "They have a passion to play Basketball and to experience playing as pros was the Goal. They have accomplished this mission and are excited to be playing on the same team to top it off. The Big Baller way!"

LiAngleo and LaMelo each signed a 1-year contract with a first division Lithuanian team. According to reports, they're not expected to make more than $500 a game.

LaVar has previously said the ultimate goal is getting the boys to the NBA ... and he's hoping Lithuania is the right path.

Big Baller Brand is going to Eastern Europe ... LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball have just signed 1-year contracts with a team in Lithuania.

LaVar Ball's 2nd and 3rd sons will play for Prienu Vytautas -- a pro team that competes in the Lithuanian LKL league.

Both Balls signed 1-year contracts, according to The Vertical ... and are expected to report to the team in early January. The Balls reportedly got multiple offers but felt this team was the right fit due to expected playing time and length of contract.

The team is reportedly based in a city of roughly 10,000 people.

Unclear how much cash the Balls will make -- but LaVar has previously said the longterm goal is to get both of his sons into the NBA with big bro Lonzo.

Before Lithuania, 19-year-old LiAngelo was on the UCLA basketball team -- but left the squad following the China shoplifting scandal. His 16-year-old bro LaMelo was a high school star -- but his father pulled him out of Chino Hills High School in favor of training him on his own.

Metta World Peace says everyone freakin' out over LaVar Ball having his sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, ditch UCLA should chill ... 'cause higher education ain't a slam dunk for everyone.

"There's so many things you can do ... college is a small part of life," Metta told TMZ Sports outside Chateau Marmont in Hollywood.

Want proof?? MWP pointed to Bill Gates and Jay-Z -- two of the prime examples of big ballers who dropped out.

And if LiAngelo does try to chase his hoop dreams ... Peace -- who's balled in China and Italy -- says playing abroad's a pretty sweet deal, too.

LaVar Ball's decision to pull his son, LiAngelo, out of UCLA is a colossal mistake that could seriously HURT the 19-year-old in the long run -- so says UFC champ Tyron Woodley.

T-Wood rips into the Big Baller on the newest episode of "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- saying LaVar's parenting moves are selfish and out of whack ... and sends a damaging message to his kids.

"You're teaching [LiAngelo] a very bad lesson in life ... that if I don't like things, I run from it."

LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball are destined to be Lakers -- so says former UCLA star Shabazz Muhammad, who's got no doubt LaVar's master plan is gonna work to perfection.

We got Bazz out on Rodeo Drive before his T-Wolves crushed the Clippers on Wednesday ... and he told us he's known the Ball boys for years -- and thinks both Gelo and Melo have what it takes to team with Lonzo in L.A.

"Think so, man" Muhammad told TMZ Sports, when we asked if LiAngelo could cut it in the NBA. "I think they gonna play all on the same team, too."

16-year-old LaMelo Ball has signed with sports agent Harrison Gaines and will NOT play college ball at UCLA, his father told ESPN.

LaVar Ball had pulled LaMelo out of Chino Hills High School earlier this year and said he was going to train the kid himself to get him ready for UCLA.

But now, with LaMelo's older brother, LiAngelo Ball, in the middle of a nasty breakup with UCLA (after the China shoplifting incident) ... LaVar has decided both sons will play professionally overseas.

"I don't care about the money," LaVar Ball told Jeff Goodman ... "I want them to go somewhere where they will play them together on the court at the same time. The priority is for the boys to play on the same team."

LaVar told TMZ Sports this week that China is still a possible landing spot for the boys -- Chinese teams would be happy to have the Ball kids.

As for LaVar's oldest son, Lonzo Ball -- he claims the decision to pull LiAngelo out of UCLA was made by the entire family with LiAngelo's best interests in mind.

LaVar Ball tells TMZ Sports China would be PUMPED on his son, LiAngelo, coming back to their country to play pro ball ... now that he's done at UCLA.

We got LaVar and LiAngelo at LAX ... and the Big Baller dad told us the door's wide open for his middle child to hoop in the same place he was ARRESTED for shoplifting last month.

"Of course! Why not?!" LaVar said, when we asked if China would welcome Gelo back. "They would be happy to have him."

LiAngelo wouldn't comment on a possible China reunion ... but quietly told us he's ready to take his talents overseas.

No matter how you feel about LiAngelo Ball ditching UCLA, leave 'Gelo out of it ... 'cause LaVar Ball didn't let his son call his own shot -- so says Rockets PG Briante Weber.

"Daddy rules, so he probably had no say-so," Briante told TMZ Sports outside Poppy in L.A. "He's really just following what his pops said."

Maybe, maybe not. In an interview on Tuesday, LaVar essentially said he made the decision for LiAngelo ... but added that they were "on the same page."

The Game has some strong advice for all those judging LaVar Ball's parenting tactics -- DON'T -- 'cause he says whatever the Ball family leader decides to do, it's in the best interest of his kids.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Compton rapper at Ace of Diamonds in West Hollywood about LaVar pulling LiAngelo outta UCLA ... and Game says no matter how he personally feels about the move, LaVar's doing what he thinks is best for his sons.

2:35 PM -- UCLA coach Steve Alford has addressed Gelo's departure, saying “We learned today of LiAngelo Ball’s intention to withdraw from UCLA. We respect the decision he and his family have made, and we wish him all the best in the future.

It's a stunning move ... LiAngelo Ball will no longer be on the UCLA basketball team and, in fact, he will not be a student at UCLA ... because his father, LaVar Ball, is removing him from the institution ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As you know, LiAngelo was indefinitely suspended from the team after he stole from several stores during a trip to China. LiAngelo was placed on house arrest but was sprung after Trump and others went to bat for him.

We're told LaVar believes the suspension was unfair, especially since the charges were dropped. LaVar's people tell TMZ Sports the famous dad thinks, "There's no need to break down a kid's spirit for making a mistake."

Our sources say LiAngelo is not officially withdrawn from the school but he's at home and will not return to UCLA.

LiAngelo was a freshman and never actually played a game for the team.

A family spokesperson added LiAngelo and Lavar appreciate UCLA for everything ... despite the circumstances that led to the suspension.

Story developing ...

Chip Kelly is getting the hard sell from one of the best talkers in football history ... who's telling TMZ Sports why Kelly should choose UCLA over Florida for his next coaching job.

Here's Freddie Mitchell ... aka FredEx ... aka former UCLA All-American ... who's spelling out why Westwood is the move, and Gainesville isn't.

Listen, we'd give you quotes on what Mitchell said, but the reality is he says stuff way better than we could write it (the dude is downright hilarious) and we don't wanna ruin it for you guys.

Michael Rapaport is pissed at Donald Trump -- saying POTUS has forced him to side with one of the people he hates most in this world ... LaVar Ball.

Rap and Ball have been trading shots for months -- with the Hollywood star once famously declaring, "Big Baller Brand shirts look uncomfortable as f**k."

But now with Trump blasting LaVar in the media for not thanking him for getting LiAngelo back from China ... Rapaport is begrudgingly joining Team Ball.

"Donald Trump. You're such a f**k."

"You're gonna take away the pleasure I get from talking sh*t about LaVar Ball?"

Rap says when it comes down to it, he and LaVar are just "talkin' sh*t" -- but Trump's a "threat to society."

Kobe Bryant's 11-year-old daughter is already getting treated like royalty by the top women's basketball program in in the world ... begging the question -- is UConn angling for Gianna Bryant?

Mamba and Mini-Mamba hit up Pauley Pavilion in Westwood on Tuesday night to watch the Huskies take on UCLA. They sat courtside and they visited the players and head coach Geno Auriemma afterward.

The catch ... Gianna is a BALLER -- she's been training with her dad and learning all of his signature moves. Kobe has already dubbed her "Mambacita."

After the game, Kobe posted on social media -- "Thank you @uconnwbb for treating our baby girl to a night she will never forget #uconn."

Guessing UConn hopes Gianna remembers in about 6 years ...

Reeeeelax ... Donald Trump's mouthpiece says POTUS was only tweeting "rhetorically" when suggesting he should have left LaVar Ball's son in a Chinese jail.

Yep.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders just addressed the media ... and was asked about Trump's tweets in which he said LaVar was "unaccepting" of what he did for LiAngelo Ball and said, "I should have left them in jail."

When questioned at Monday's White House news conference, SHS said, "It was a rhetorical response to a criticism by the father."

"Frankly it didn't seem like the father wanted the President to intervene which I think would've been a sad thing if he hadn't."