The Double Dribble

[smeehead]

In a recent game I was playing against a friend, he was driving toward the hoop and then stopped dribbling. To make it hard to shoot I guarded him closely(standing right next to him). Because he had no decent shot, he bounced the ball off my thigh, and proceeded to dribble again.

Isn't this type of situation a double dribble?

He says "no" because it is a pass that is deflected by me. He adds that he should know because "I'm a REF!!!"

How is it a pass when he just taps it off my body? Do you guys know if the rules speak to this kind of situation?

Any help would clear up alot of flared tempers.

Thanks,

Gil