NFHS Part II, nr 97: "It is a violation if A1 jumps to try for goal, but realizing it will be blocked, drops the ball to the floor and starts a dribble. T or F. Open book test for our organization and I answered True using 4.43.3.c and 4.43.4.b as justification. In the post-mortem, my partner says no answer is false (no violation) because A1 may have been a player who has not yet established a pivot foot as in 4.43.2.a.1 and the previous prohibitions on lifting a pivot foot prior to releasing the ball for a dribble are not addressed. I'm thinking even the latter example is still walkin' but the rules seem to lack specificity on the third option.

It's a violation for lifting the pivot foot before starting a dribble. Even if a pivot foot hasn't been established, the prohibition applies. See 4.43.3B