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BobMc,
Here are some clips from the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) Rulesbook which should help you understand that there is nothing illegal about this player's actions.
4-12-1 . . . A player is in control of the ball when he/she is holding or dribbling a live ball inbounds. ...
4-12-6 ...Neither team control nor player control exists during a dead ball, throw-in, a jump ball or when the ball is in flight during a try or tap for goal.
4-15-1 . . . A dribble is ball movement caused by a player in control who bats (intentionally strikes the ball with the hand(s)) or pushes the ball to the floor once or several times.
4-15-4 NOTE 2: A player is not dribbling while slapping the ball during a jump, when a pass rebounds from his/her hand, when he/she fumbles, or when he/she bats a rebound or pass away from other players who are attempting to get it. The player is not in control under these conditions.
4-37-1 . . . Rebounding is an attempt by any player to secure possession of the ball following a try or tap for goal. In a rebounding situation there is no player or team control.
4-41-2 . . . A try for field goal is an attempt by a player to score two or three points by throwing the ball into a team's own basket. A player is trying for goal when the player has the ball and in the official's judgment is throwing or attempting to throw for goal. It is not essential that the ball leave the player's hand as a foul could prevent release of the ball.
4-41-5 . . . A tap for goal is the contacting of the ball with any part of a player's hand(s) in an attempt to direct the ball into his/her basket.
4-41-6 . . . A tap shall be considered the same as a try for field goal, except as in 5-2-5.
4-44 Traveling (running with the ball) is moving a foot or feet in any direction in excess of prescribed limits while holding the ball.
Ok, so now look at it this way, what do you think the player has done which is illegal? Did he dribble illegally? Nope, because the rule states that batting the ball during rebounding action is not a dribble (nor is he pushing it to the floor).
Did he travel? No, because if he is merely batting a rebound and trying to obtain control, then he is not HOLDING the ball which is a requirement of traveling. If he does control the ball enough to tap it in the opinion of the official, then this control ends when the ball leaves his hand and is in flight during the attempt to score a goal. Since a tap is treated the same as a try for goal and both team and player control end once the ball is in flight, the player cannot be charged with a traveling violation (player control ended).
So unless the player fouls an opponent while doing this, there is nothing wrong with his actions.
Lastly, this casebook ruling should help clarify this for you.
4.44 SITUATION B: A1 attempts a try after ending the dribble. The try does not touch the backboard, the rim or any other player. A1 runs and is able to catch the ball before it strikes the floor. Is this traveling? RULING: No. When A1 recovered his/her own try, A1 could either dribble, pass or try again. There was no team control after the ball was released on a try.
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