Anyone have a high school rule book for 3 in the key. Last night we had a guy camping in the key every damn play so a couple of us starting counting just to piss him off, we don't call 3 in the key. He said he was a high school ref and the 3 in the key only applies IF the ball is passed in to that player. He said it's that way in the NBA too, which I am positive is not but I don't know if it's any different in high school. Nobody else agreed with him but he insisted we were ALL wrong.

He said it's that way in the NBA too, which I am positive is not but I don't know if it's any different in high school. Nobody else agreed with him but he insisted we were ALL wrong.

the fact that he said it's that way in the NBA should tell you something

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_10.html?nav=ArticleList

Section VII-Offensive Three-Second Rule
a. An offensive player shall not remain for more than three seconds in that part of his free throw lane between the endline and extended 4' (imaginary) off the court and the farther edge of the free throw line while the ball is in control of his team.
b. Allowance may be made for a player who, having been in this area for less than three seconds, is in the act of shooting at the end of the third second. Under these conditions, the 3-second count is discontinued while his continuous motion is toward the basket. If that continuous motion ceases, the previous 3-second count is continued.
c. The 3-second count shall not begin until the ball is in control in the offensive team's frontcourt. No violation can occur if the ball is batted away by an opponent.
PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the sideline at the free throw line extended.

It's been awhile since I watched a high school basketball game, but I'm pretty dam sure that it's the same in High School

no, 3 in the key has NOTHING to do with the ball. he's wrong. i have seen so many times shaq or some other centers called for 3 without even touching the ball. it's pointless if he can spend all the time he needs in the paint to position himself