#8: Brandon Knight
The Detroit Pistons have selected point guard Brandon Knight from the University of Kentucky with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft.
Knight averaged 17 points and 4 assists in his lone season as a collegiate athlete with the Wildcats.
With the Pistons’ current logjam on the wing it should come as no surprise the organization decided to bolster their backcourt depth.
Knight was a consensus top-five pick in HOOPSWORLD’s final mock draft.
The Pistons current starting point guard, Rodney Stuckey, was tendered a qualifying offer last week which gives the franchise the opportunity to match any offer for his services once free agency begins.
The selection of Knight seemingly indicates Detroit isn’t completely sold on Stuckey being the club’s point guard of the future. It is worth noting Knight did not work out for the Pistons in the pre-draft selection process.
While Knight is listed as a point guard, many experts believe he’s more of a combo guard with the same type of game Stuckey possesses. Knight feels his performance in leading Kentucky to a Final Four appearance as the floor general should quiet the skeptics.
The Pistons have endured three straight losing seasons after notching at least 50 victories in the previous seven campaigns and currently do not have a head coach.
Knight becomes the sixth University of Kentucky player to be drafted in the first round over the past two seasons and should have an opportunity to earn significant playing time right out of the gate.
More information to follow.
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