Humphries won’t attend Duke; future uncertain
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. ? The basketball future of former Twin Cities high school standout Kris Humphries is very much up in the air.
What is known is Duke University announced Monday it granted Humphries’ request to be released from his letter of intent.
The list of what is unknown is longer — what led to Humphries changing his mind about playing for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski; where Humphries will play college basketball; and whether the McDonald’s All-America selection will be eligible to play next season or if he will have to sit out.
Humphries father, William, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune Monday he didn’t know where his son was going to school or how long the process of finding another school would take.
After adding his son wanted to play closer to home, he declined further comment.
Kris Humphries, the Star Tribune’s two-time Metro Player of the Year, will be courted in the upcoming days and weeks by nearly every program that has an available scholarship. It is expected he’ll land at the University of Minnesota.
This late in the recruiting process, Humphries — a 6-foot-8 forward with a Division One-ready body and good perimeter skills who was one of 10 players named to Parade magazine’s All-America team — is clearly the best player nationally who doesn’t have a school for next season.
Humphries averaged 25 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and five assists last season at Hopkins High.
William Humphries played football for the Gophers and remains active in the “M” club. Kris Humphries considered the Gophers when making his college decision, but ultimately pared the field to the Blue Devils and Kansas University, which still has one scholarship available.
Even though Duke has released Humphries from his letter of intent, he is not free to play next season. The National Letter of Intent — a document administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association rather than the NCAA — says that even if a player receives a release, he or she “shall not be eligible for competition at the second NLI member institution during the first academic year of residence and shall be charged with the loss of one season of competition.”
To play next school year, Humphries will make an appeal to show “extenuating circumstances” for why he should be released without penalty.
Humphries had previously discussed bypassing college completely and entering the NBA draft. However, the deadline for high school and college underclassmen to make themselves eligible has passed.