Shooting foul before Baller jumps?
 

Shooting foul is committed when the shooter is fouled in the motion of shooting, and possible after the shots being made and before he landed back on his original position.

However would a shooting foul be awarded before a player initiated a shooting motion?

For example the player was fouled when he was gathering, or during the 1-2 step for a layup, would you call it a shooting foul or just normal defensive foul? Or if you judge by looking at whether there's any "Attempt" for a field goal?

You should realize that the shooting motion does not equate to being airborne. Most of the time, in fact, the motion starts discernably sooner than the point at which the shooter becomes airborne.

NFHS Rule 4-11, Articles 1 & 2

ART. 1

Continuous motion applies to a try or tap for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by any defensive player during the interval which begins when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap and ends when the ball is clearly in flight.

ART. 2

If an opponent fouls after a player has started a try for goal, he/she is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or *stepping when fouled, may complete the usual foot or body movement in any activity while holding the ball. These privileges are granted only when the usual throwing motion has started before the foul occurs and before the ball is in flight.

So...ask yourself "What's the habitual throwing movement prior to most layup attempts?"