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NEWARK, NJ (AP) -- The Detroit Pistons have chosen Kentucky guard Brandon Knight with the eighth pick in the NBA draft.

Knight averaged 17.3 points per game as a freshman last season for the Wildcats.

He joins a Detroit team trying to rebuild after missing the playoffs two straight seasons.

The Pistons went 30-52 in 2010-11, and coach John Kuester was fired. The team hasn't hired

a replacement.

Detroit does have a new owner. Tom Gores completed a deal to

purchase the team from Karen Davidson less than a month ago.

With frontcourt prospects Tristan Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas

and Bismack Biyombo all taken, the Pistons went with Knight, who

helped the Wildcats reach the Final Four.

The Pistons later selected Duke forward Kyle Singler in the second round.

Detroit took Singler with the 33rd pick overall.

Singler averaged 16.2 points per game over four seasons at Duke

and was named the Final Four's most outstanding player in 2010,

when the Blue Devils won the national title.

The 6-foot-8 Singler set school records with 147 career starts

and 4,887 minutes.

Singler joins a Detroit team that might have to replace free

agent Tayshaun Prince.

The Pistons chose Florida's Vernon Macklin in the second round with the 52nd pick overall.

The 6-foot-10 Macklin averaged 11.6 points per game last season for the Gators.

He began his college career at Georgetown, where he played two seasons before transferring to Florida to play two more.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)