Waco, Texas ? Kansas University basketball signee David Padgett received good news Monday from the doctor.

The 6-foot-11, 235-pound Reno (Nev.) High power forward, who had to be helped off the court after twisting his right knee Saturday night, has been diagnosed with a severe patellar strain.

Tests showed no structural damage, meaning surgery will not be necessary.

Padgett will miss Reno High’s final two regular-season games and the state playoffs, but could be back for the McDonald’s All-America and EA Sports all-star games March 26 in Cleveland and March 31 in Chicago.

“Myself, my dad and my teammates worked so hard to make a run for it (state title). To have it end like this is horrible,” Padgett told the Reno Gazette-Journal after being examined by doctors Monday.

“We feel we had a shot (to win state), but to know I’m not going to need surgery is a big plus.”

Padgett — he came down on a player’s foot while going for a rebound in a game in Carson City, Nev. — said he likely will undergo an MRI later this week, but surgery would not be an option.

“He should be 100 percent after rehab,” Pete Padgett, Reno High’s coach and David’s dad, told the paper.

David Padgett said KU coach Roy Williams had called “a couple of times to see how I was doing. He was excited about that (no structural damage). I think he was worried about that a bit.”

Coincidentally, Padgett suffered a season-ending injury to his left kneecap in a game his junior season at Carson City, Nev. He was surprised to hurt his right knee stepping on a foot while chasing a rebound.

“Usually when you do that it’s an ankle,” David Padgett said.

Padgett averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds this season for 14-6 Reno High. It’s expected he’ll be named to the McDonald’s All-America team later this month. He’s been selected to play for the West in the EA Sports all-star game.

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Hinrich honored: Kansas senior Kirk Hinrich, who scored 28 and 24 points against Kansas State and Missouri, Monday was named Big 12 Conference men’s basketball player of the week.

Hinrich has won the award twice this season and four times in his career.

“He’s having a great, great year for us,” Williams said.

Hinrich averages 18.0 points off 50.8 percent shooting. He has made 53 of 116 three-pointers for 45.7 percent.

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Remember Waco: Two years ago, Baylor fans stormed the court after the Bears’ 85-77 victory over KU. Tonight KU returns to Ferrell Center for an 8:05 p.m. tip.

“I think it’ll be something we’ll mention in passing. It was two years ago,” Williams said. “We have Kirk and Nick (Collison) who remember that game, nobody else played except Bryant Nash.”

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Book sales high: Former KU guard Jeff Boschee told a “Hawk Talk” radio audience he has sold 20,000 copies of his book, “Long Shot.”

Filling in for Williams, who was headed to Waco with his players, Boschee said he would try to resume his basketball career next season after earning his degree in sports management at KU.

“I am going to try to get in the NBA pre-draft camp I missed last year,” Boschee said. “If I don’t make it (in NBA) I plan on going overseas to play and make some money.”

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Case update: KU signee Jeremy Case, a 6-0 guard from McAlester, Okla., has passed the 2,000 point total for his career. Case, who averages 24 points a game for 17-2 McAlester High, scored 37 points in Saturday’s 84-59 home victory over Shawnee. He now has 2,033 points.

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Gibson to visit KU: Daniel Gibson, a 6-foot-3 junior guard from Houston, will visit KU this weekend for the KU-Iowa State game. Gibson has visited Texas and Georgia Tech and also will visit Arkansas and Oklahoma. Gibson, who is averaging 26 points and seven assists, tells Mike Sullivan of rivalshoops.com Texas is his leader.

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Reunion list: KU will hold its 105 year basketball reunion this weekend. A list of former KU players and coaches who will return and be introduced at halftime of Sunday’s KU-Iowa State game, can be found on page 6C.