Airborne shooter

[RookieDude]

I think we discussed the following situation a year or two ago. A fellow official asked me about it last week and I told him how I would call it...see if you guys agree.

A1 leaves the ground to shoot or pass the ball. In midair, A1 decides to pass the ball to A2. B1 has legal guarding position in the path of A1. A1 passes the ball and then crashes into B1.

I told my fellow official that A1 would have commited a player control foul.

We had some discussions here concerning A1 leaving the ground, with no intention of shooting in our judgement, passing the ball to A2 and crashing into B1. If I remember correctly...some say yay, some say nay.

My thinking is A1 had "Control" of the ball when he/she left the ground...and would be under the same type of restrictions as an airborne shooter...therefore, player control on A1 even though A1 had passed the ball.

Case Book Definitions: 4.1.1 RULING: A1 is an airborne shooter when the ball is released until he/she returns to the floor.

Different Case, but could use the terminology to support statement. Such as "Airborne passer"?

Comments?

RD