TRENTON, N.J. -- A referee criticized for posing for a photo with LeBron James after a game sees no reason why he should be punished.

"I talked to the people on a (sports) ethics committee and asked them, 'What rule did I violate?' No one could tell me,'' Tony Celantano told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Celantano faces possible sanctions from a New Jersey officiating panel for the picture, snapped after James scored a career-high 52 points to lead St. Vincent-St. Mary's of Akron, Ohio, past Westchester of Los Angeles 78-52 at the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton on Saturday night.

Celantano, an official for 27 years, said that if two New Jersey teams had been playing, he wouldn't have allowed a picture of him to be taken with one of the game's participants.

"No way,'' he said. "If this were an NCAA semifinal or something, sure, hang me; that's inappropriate.''

The central New Jersey chapter of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials is investigating the matter. President Fred Dumont expects a decision within a week. The organization that oversees scholastic sports in New Jersey will review the findings.

James was playing his first game since a judge in Ohio reinstated his eligibility. The 18-year-old star had been ruled ineligible for the rest of the season for accepting two sports jerseys worth $845 from a Cleveland clothing store.

After his spectacular performance in Trenton, James stopped briefly to pose with Celantano for the snapshot. The referee said his cousin's husband, Lou Penge, asked to get a picture for a photo collage the family compiles for an annual picnic.

Celantano said he merely intended to be in the frame, but James leaned in and put an arm around him.

Celantano can still work as a referee, and he said he'll be on the court Friday for a game in Bordentown, N.J.