Despite many mock drafts having Kentucky guard Brandon Knight going in the top five picks of Thursday’s NBA draft, the former Wildcat fell to the No. 8 spot and the Detroit Pistons.

Here’s some of the reaction from around the web:

Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press…
Everybody in basketball knew he would be a one-and-done player at Kentucky. His coach, John Calipari, recruited him with that implicit understanding. When Knight got to Kentucky, the NCAA ruled that his freshman teammate, Enes Kanter, was ineligible for the season. A lot of players in Knight's position would have tried to put up big numbers and leave. Knight was clearly invested in Kentucky's success. It showed in his defense and the way he rallied his team. He was the biggest reason Kentucky made the Final Four…MORE

Vince Ellis, Sacarmento Bee...
And while the Pistons like his talent - the character that Knight will bring to Motown is just as attractive to the team. After watching the international big men come off the board in Thursday night's NBA draft, the Pistons used the eighth pick to draft the silky smooth combo guard from Kentucky…MORE

Justin Rogers, MLive.com...
Even though the Pistons' most-pressing need was finding a frontcourt complement to last year's first-round draft pick Greg Monroe, the team had no other option than to select the talented point guard out of Kentucky when the top frontcourt prospects were all selected in the first seven picks. Knight could be a future All-Star. At the very least, he projects to be a quality starter in the NBA...MORE

Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald Leader…
Though saddled with the expectations that came with being the latest in a line of Calipari point guard sensations, Knight excelled. He averaged 17.3 points and 4.2 assists en route to being named to the Southeastern Conference's second team, a Freshman All-American and the league Freshman of the Year…MORE

OTHER PLAYERS OF LOCAL INTEREST
Round 1, Pick 3 - Enes Kanter, forward, Kentucky (inelgible last season)
Round 1, Pick 22 - Nuggets - Kenneth Faried, forward, Morehead State
Round 2, Pick 45 - Hornets (traded to Knicks) - Josh Harrellson, forward, Kentucky
Round 2, Pick 51 - Trail Blazers - Jon Diebler, forward, Ohio State
ROund 2, Pick 53 - Magic - DeAndre Liggins, guard, Kentucky

COMPLETE DRAFT BOARD (NBA.com)

College Hoops, NBA 2011 nba draft, detroit pistons, brandon knight, enes kanter, josh harrellson, deandre liggins, kentucky wildcats, uk