Lucca Staiger may have to wait a few more weeks to begin his college basketball career.

Staiger will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Friday to get it “checked out before it gets bad,” said Mike Green, associate director of athletics communications.

Staiger hasn’t practiced with the team since Saturday because of inflammation in the knee, Green said. Green stressed that there “may be nothing wrong,” but at this point the team is unsure.

Staiger will likely be out for two to three weeks, meaning he could miss Iowa State’s exhibition game against Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 8.

After missing the entire 2007-08 season, the guard from Blaustein, Germany, said at practice on Tuesday he was excited to get this season underway.

“I’m ready and I can’t wait to play and I’m really excited that this is over now and I’m back with all the other guys,” he said.

The NCAA Amateur Certification Process declared Staiger ineligible last season because he played for a club team in Germany which was declared a professional organization by the NCAA. Although Staiger said he did not receive payment for playing, two players on the team did.

He was allowed to practice with the team last season but was not able to suit up on gamedays or travel with the team.

Staiger, who played on Germany’s U20 FIBA European Division B Championship team over the summer, will be counted on to help replace departing seniors Rahshon Clark and Jiri Hubalek as well as Wesley Johnson, who transferred to Syracuse following last season.

Staiger averaged 10.3 points per game for the German team and led the team in 3-pointers with 16 over the summer.