Testimony Puts Montclair Prep in a Bad Light : Prep football: Players’ families accuse Van Nuys school of grade tampering, tuition violations.

Amid charges of grade tampering and free tuition at Montclair Prep in Van Nuys, the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee Wednesday ordered an in-house investigation into the school’s football program.

The charges took place during a three-hour session, and there was speculation that the investigation could result in severe punishment for Montclair Prep.

“If the accusations stand true, then Montclair Prep could receive the maximum sentence, which is expulsion from the CIF,” said Stan Thomas, Southern Section Commissioner. “I’m not surprised by what I heard today. I’ve heard these things about that school before.”

The allegations came Wednesday during testimony regarding the eligibility appeals of cousins Leland and Derek Sparks, senior football players who withdrew from Montclair Prep last week and enrolled Monday at Santa Ana Mater Dei. The meeting, before Thomas and three members of the CIF executive committee, had been held to explore the eligibility of Leland and Derek at Mater Dei.

Jerome and Eric Sparks, uncles of Leland and Derek, accused George Giannini, Montclair football coach; John Hazelton, assistant coach, and Dr. Vernon Simpson, principal, of misleading the two players on a variety of subjects, including eligibility guidelines, academic standing and playing time.

“I never saw any report cards, and I’m not sure how many they received,” Jerome said. “We never had to pay for any tuition. And every time there was a problem, Giannini would just say, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.’ ”

Eric Sparks, an assistant coach on the football team last season, said it was not uncommon for a player’s grade-point average to jump from 0.6 to 2.8 in one semester.

According to transcripts obtained by Mater Dei Principal Lyle Porter, Leland Sparks didn’t have enough credits to be eligible at Montclair Prep last year. But he played football, basketball and baseball.

Giannini and Greg Reece, Montclair athletic director, attended the meeting, but twice turned down opportunities to refute the accusations and both declined comment after the meeting.

No ruling was made regarding the transfers, but Leland was granted a hardship and has one more year of eligibility. Thomas will make a decision on the transfers by Friday.

Derek Sparks, 17, a running back, is considered one of the top prospects in the Southland. Leland Sparks, 18, played quarterback for Montclair Prep last year.