Humphries still looking at his options

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kris Humphries wants to play college basketball as soon as he can, but the former Hopkins High School star is also prepared to sit out next season, his father said.

The two plan to meet on Saturday to "figure out which direction we're going in," William Humphries said Friday in a brief phone interview.

Since Duke released him from his letter of intent this week, Kris Humphries has been contacted by several schools. His father said they'd like to narrow the list to three this weekend and possibly announce his choice -- as well as discuss the reasons for his request to leave the ACC power -- in a news conference next week.

"We're still looking at our options right now, still going through the appeals process," William Humphries said.

Kris Humphries, a two-time Associated Press Minnesota Player of the Year pick and McDonald's All-American, signed a binding national letter of intent with Duke in November.

Normally, athletes who sign a letter of intent with a Division I program and leave for another school must sit out a year. Kris Humphries is appealing to a steering committee of the National Letter of Intent Board to gain eligibility for the 2003-04 season. The majority of appeals are approved, but a decision could take weeks.

William Humphries said the paperwork process wouldn't affect the timetable of his son's decision. He also emphasized that sitting out this season wouldn't be a bad thing for his son, pointing to the success of Marquette's Dwyane Wade.