Granada Hills Puts Transfer Into Lineup

Anthony Hall, a 6-foot, 4-inch, 270-pound offensive lineman who was expelled from San Fernando High last year, has transferred to Northwest Valley League rival Granada Hills.

San Fernando administrators found a nearby school for Hall after refusing to accept him for his senior year. The move was made under the guidelines of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s opportunity transfer program that is used for students in disciplinary cases or for the protection of the student.

Hall was expelled halfway through his junior year and finished the 11th grade at Robert H. Louis continuation school in Sun Valley. Granada Hills and San Fernando officials declined to reveal the nature of his offense.

Hall worked out with San Fernando during the opening week of practice last month, but when Athletic Director Quentin Panek learned of his participation, Hall was asked to leave the team. Efforts by San Fernando Coach Tom Hernandez to persuade Panek to reconsider failed.

“Hernandez was very positive about Anthony Hall and said he would be a model student, but we have a policy that when a student is expelled he isn’t allowed back,” Panek said. “If he was suspended, it would be different.”

Hernandez praised Hall as a player but accepted his transfer philosophically.

“He had played for us for two years and he looked really good, like he had improved a lot,” he said. “But I think it’s more of a gain for them than a loss for us.”

Hall enrolled at Granada Hills last week and first practiced with the team this week. He impressed Coach Darryl Stroh enough to win a position in the starting lineup for Friday’s game against Franklin.

“He doesn’t know our terminology, but he’s done well,” Stroh said. “We’ve been impressed with the way he handles his body and the way he moves. He’s an impact player, a Division I prospect.”