But the ball never passed halfcourt!

[mick]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Debateable.
If the official deems that the player had control of the ball, then it is a violation. Strictly a judgment call.

...And during this controlled tap, would the player be [in your judgement] holding or dribbling.

[BillyMac]

During a throwin, even under a team’s own basket, if the throwin is deflected, tipped, or batted by an offensive player in the frontcourt to an offensive player in the backcourt; or after a missed field goal attempt or a missed foul shot attempt, if the ball is deflected, tipped, or batted by an offensive player in the frontcourt to an offensive player in the backcourt; these are not a backcourt violations. In both cases team control, a player holding or dribbling the ball, has not yet been established.

During a throwin or jump ball, any player; or a defensive player, in making a steal; may legally jump from his or her frontcourt, secure control of the ball with both feet off the floor, and return to the floor with one or both feet in the backcourt. The player may make a normal landing and it makes no difference whether the first foot down is in the frontcourt or the backcourt. These three situations are not backcourt violations.

[Scrapper1]

JMO, but "controlled tap" is an oxymoron.

If it's controlled, then it's not a tap.

If it's a tap, then it's not controlled.

You can bat the ball toward a particular person, but that doesn't designate "control" in any rules-sense.