What do ya got?
 

Player A is in the air and controls the rebound and passes out to the sideline where his teammate is. However, his teammate leaves the area and 1) player runs and grabs it and 2) runs and starts a dribble.

What do you have?

I've got an opportunity to refer you to the Past Interps Archive. :)

2003-04 NFHS BASKETBALL RULES INTERPRETATIONS

SITUATION 6: A1 jumps from the floor and secures a defensive rebound. A1 then pivots toward the sideline where a teammate, A2, is standing for an outlet pass. Just as A1 releases the pass, A2 turns and runs down the court. A1 throws a soft bounce pass to where A2 was standing. A1 then moves and secures the ball without dribbling. RULING: Legal action. A1 had the pivot foot on the floor and began a dribble by throwing the ball to the floor (the bounce pass); the dribble ended when A1 secured the ball. Upon reaching the ball, A1 also could have continued the dribble. (4-15-3,4)

The OP does not say A1 returned to the floor before making the pass. However, I think the same rationale applies. No pivot has been established, so a dribble may be started, which is what happened when the "pass" was made.

You are correct. Player A was in the air and I would assume say concept ... This is what I thought when I saw the play originally. My partner called a violation and at the next break came together and I asked him what he had. I told him I thought what happened was legal and that his attempted pass could have been considered the start of a dribble.

What violation did your partner charge the player with?--A self-pass. :rolleyes:

He called a travel.

What would be the correct call if the player had dribbled and then made this pass (not a fumble) and recovered it.

Assuming that he ended his dribble before the pass, that would be a double dribble. But you knew that. ;)

<newbie disclaimer here> Does the call change if the pass never hits the floor? (picturing a high lob)

It does if the pivot foot moves.

I think I must be reading this wrong ... "could have continued the dribble" even after securing the ball?? (Or after just 'reaching' it and NOT gathering it but rather pushing it groundward one or more times to continue the dribble?)

He could have gotten to the ball and continued the dribble if he doesn't end it (by grabbing it with two hands) first.