Mater Dei Gets Sparks, at Least Temporarily

Derek Sparks, an All-Southern Section running back at Montclair Prep last season, has enrolled at Santa Ana Mater Dei High, Athletic Director Gary McKnight said Monday.

Sparks’ eligibility will be determined Wednesday during hearings at the Southern Section office in Cerritos.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound senior gained 1,944 yards and scored 35 touchdowns at Montclair Prep last season. He played in the Mounties’ season opener two weeks ago, gaining 63 yards in 16 carries in a 28-7 loss over Honolulu Farrington, but left the team last week.

Sparks practiced Monday in preparation for Mater Dei’s game against Tustin on Thursday. Sparks is expected to petition for immediate eligibility because of a change of residence. McKnight said that June Sparks, Derek’s mother, moved from Wharton, Tex., to Santa Ana and Derek will live with her.

While he attended Montclair Prep, Derek’s guardian was Jerome Sparks, his uncle. Derek lived in Granada Hills with the Goldbaum family, whose son, John, plays at Montclair Prep.

Sparks said his mother will become his legal guardian. He also said he is unsure whether he would remain at Mater Dei, return to Montclair Prep or Texas if he is ruled ineligible by the Southern Section.

“I have no idea,” Sparks said. “We’ll wait and see what happens.”

The fate of Leland Sparks, Derek’s cousin, also will be decided at the hearing Wednesday, Thomas said. Leland also is enrolled at Mater Dei and is appealing a Southern Section ruling handed down two weeks ago that denied him a fifth year of eligibility, Monarch football Coach Bruce Rollinson said.