Derek Sparks Granted Eligibility, but His Cousin Leland Is Denied

Running back Derek Sparks has been cleared to play football at Santa Ana Mater Dei, the school announced Friday.

After reviewing Sparks’ official transcripts, CIF Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas said he was academically eligible.

Sparks, one of the Southland’s top running backs, left Van Nuys Montclair Prep last week and enrolled at Mater Dei Monday.

Thomas said transcripts from Montclair Prep indicate Sparks had a grade-point average last spring semester lower than a 2.0 needed for eligibility. But he will be able to play because Mater Dei can put him on academic probation and give him one semester to improve his grades while he plays.

Under Southern Section rules, a student on academic probation has one grading period to get off probation, and that period won’t end until after the football season.

Thomas said Leland Sparks, Derek’s cousin who also transferred from Montclair Prep to Mater Dei, won’t be allowed to play football. His grade-point average was below a 2.0 for the past two semesters, meaning he didn’t qualify for academic probation.

Leland successfully petitioned the Southern Section for a fifth-year of eligibility this week. He will be eligible for spring sports if his grades improve.