Ground control to Dwayne Polee Jr.

It’s a stunning image of a 15-year-old dunking a basketball, soaring as if he were Michael Jordan.

The photograph of 6-foot-7 sophomore Dwayne Polee Jr. from Westchester High going airborne, with his hand reaching the top of the square on the glass backboard, was taken during a game against Los Angeles Fairfax last month.

The Times’ photographer, Richard Hartog, insists, “There’s no illusion. He got way up. When I saw the frame, I was like, ‘Wow.’ ”

And that’s the typical reaction of those who’ve seen the photo, including Polee.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” he said.

Polee had three dunks in the game, and Fairfax’s 6-10 Renardo Sidney had five. But all of Polee’s dunks were particularly impressive because of how high he skies combined with the length of his arms.

But how high is his leap in the photo? Based on the simple math that his head is almost equal to the 10-foot-high rim and he’s 6-7, that means he’s more than 40 inches off the floor. And that’s incredible for someone his age.

“He’s still 15 and knows nothing,” said his father, Dwayne Sr., who had a 39-inch vertical leap during his days at Manual Arts High and Pepperdine.

Asked if he can outleap his father, Dwayne Jr. said, “I’m not sure.”

But this photo proves he can.

About the only high school player these days in the Southland who could match Polee in the leaping department is Compton senior DeMar DeRozan. There’s an entertaining video on YouTube.com that features DeRozan and Polee dunking basketballs. Both are set to attend USC.

Polee and Westchester get a rematch against Fairfax tonight at 7 in a Western League game at Loyola Marymount. Fairfax won the first meeting, 68-63.

Don’t leave home without your camera in order to capture Polee’s next Jordanesque moment.

At 16, Terrance Hayward should be getting ready for his junior season of football at Culver City. Instead, he’ll sign a letter of intent today with Washington State and enter college as one of the youngest defensive backs in the nation.

Born on Nov. 26, 1991, Hayward moved up a grade in junior high. He was playing high school football as a 12-year-old freshman. Nothing seems to faze him.

“I always hung around with older people and it made me grow up faster and fit right in,” he said.

Washington State is making a projection that Hayward will continue to improve and grow. He’s 6-1 and 180 pounds and the Cougars intend to redshirt him next season.

“They like the potential,” Hayward said.

One of the most underrated football players in the Southland this season was Encino Crespi cornerback L.J. Jones, who’s headed to Fresno State. He was the defensive player of the year in the Serra League, and what a great attitude he has.

Last week, he was running around dressed as the Celts mascot at a basketball game.

“I think it’s great,” football Coach Jeremiah Ross said. “He’s what you want. He has a great spirit about himself. I think Fresno State has gotten themselves a heck of a cornerback.”

Because of the absurdity of the football recruiting process, high school seniors who commit early should be required to produce white smoke from their chimneys when their final decisions really have been made.

This has been a crazy year, with players going from soft committed to de-committed to re-committed.

Not wanting to dampen the delirium of today’s signing day, let me present a group of local juniors sure to become Internet sensations well before their signing day in February 2009:

Quarterback Matt Barkley, Santa Ana Mater Dei. Yes, he committed to USC on Jan. 23, but there are still UCLA fans who think he’ll change his mind if the NCAA punishes the Trojans because of allegations involving Reggie Bush. Forget it. The only way he doesn’t sign is if Coach Pete Carroll leaves, and that’s not happening.

Running back Cierre Wood, Oxnard Santa Clara. USC, Notre Dame and Florida have made early offers to Wood, a fast, athletic small-schools player who’s dominating Ventura County football like Lorenzo Booker did during his days at Ventura St. Bonaventure.

Receiver De’Von Flournoy, Lake Balboa Birmingham. He has speed, powerful hands, jumps well and is the best receiver to come out of the City Section since Steve Smith of Woodland Hills Taft in 2003. On Saturday, he committed to USC.

Quarterback Clark Evans, Los Alamitos. Let’s see what UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow thinks after evaluating Evans, who could be the No. 2 quarterback prospect behind Barkley in a strong year for Southern California quarterbacks.

Receiver Shaquelle Evans, Inglewood. Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis handed a written scholarship offer to the 6-2 Evans last week. Then USC made him an offer. More offers will surely come for this player with big-play ability.

Linebacker Jordan Barrett, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. There will be four former Knights on USC’s roster, so if Coach Kevin Rooney has a fifth player join the Trojans, he’ll qualify for Carroll’s Fave Five list. Barrett is 6-3, 225 pounds with a nasty attitude toward running backs.

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict, Corona Centennial. No one passes the eyeball test better than the 6-2, 235-pound Burfict, who had 130 tackles and four sacks for the Huskies. If he can square away his academics, the recruiters will come out en masse.

Cornerback Marlon Pollard, San Bernardino Cajon. Last summer, during passing leagues, Pollard stuck to receivers like glue. It got him a scholarship offer to UCLA, and he accepted.

Receiver Randall Carroll, Los Angeles Cathedral. He might be the fastest athlete in the state by this time next year. He has committed to USC.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com