InterTubing: Sweltering hoops and hardball highlights

Yes, InterTubing still exists. No, it won't run every week -- we're in the middle of the summer, after all -- but there are still plenty of impressive AAU summer circuit highlights and late-season hardball highlights that need to be seen. Certainly, this batch deserves to be among them.

• Cliff Alexander, Chicago (Ill.) Curie and AAU Team D-Rose 15U: It's too early to know how the Class of 2014 will shake out among top recruits, but one thing is certain: Cliff Alexander has the size and explosiveness to make himself a major contender if he fully taps into his potential, as he showed with this dunk follow after a missed free throw.

• Corey Stearns, AAU Kentucky Elite; Eron Gordon, AAU Indy Hoosier: Antoyne Jackson, AAU Indy Hoosier: What's more impressive than a dunk contest? A dunk contest among seventh-graders, who will be a part of the Class of 2016 (it made Prep Rally feel incredibly, incredibly old to just type the last part of the previous sentence). Corey Stearns may have stolen the title and lion's share of the hype from this Memorial Day tournament, but Eron Gordon -- who is the younger brother of Clippers star Eric Gordon -- will be sure to remain under the spotlight in the future as well.

• James Mann, AAU Columbus Stars: No, that prior trio isn't the only group of seventh-graders throwing down slams. Just check out this dunk by youngster James Mann, who while competing at the 13U Grand Nationals.

• John Jones, Chicago (Ill.) Powerhouse: According to friend of the blog Scott Comeau, Jones just arrived in Chicago from Barbados in late May or early June, and will reportedly attend Powerhouse in the fall. Fans of the inner-city program certainly hope he will, as few 6-foot-8 big men could hope to be as naturally agile or explosive as Jones (who, evidently, can also throw quite a javelin) appeared on this tip dunk from a summer league game.

• Jeff Diehl, Cranston (R.I.) West: Talk about a big day: First, Diehl hears his name called in the MLB draft, selected in Round 23 by the New York Mets. Then, less than two hours later, he goes out and drills this bomb at McCoy Stadium -- home of the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox -- during the Rhode Island state title series' third and deciding game, an 18-7 Cranston West (R.I.) High rout of North Kingston (R.I.) High.

• Nathan Helke, Troy (Ohio): There are home runs, and then there are moon shots. To say that Helke's drive in a game at Miami (Ohio) University was of the latter category is a phenomenal understatement. Helke not only drove over the near 400-foot right-center fence at Miami, he did so by more than 40 feet. Now THAT is major prospect power.

• John Pope, some school in Georgia: Prep Rally couldn't figure out where John Pope plays, but we know that he swings a mean stick where that is. In this case, he drilled a deep homer to left at Peachtree (Ga.) McIntosh High. If nothing else, it was a no-doubter.

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