Pistons select Andre Drummond with ninth pick of 2012 Draft

The Detroit Pistons have selected 18 year-old Andre Drummond from Connecticut with their first round selection in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Drummond, who finished high school early and enrolled at the University of Connecticut, spent one season with the Huskies, averaging 10 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and 2.7 blocks per game. 

He was named to the Big East All-Rookie team.

As the first eight picks unfolded, it became more and more clear that Drummond would be available to Detroit.

Damian Lillard was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth pick and Terrence Ross was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the eighth pick.  Both of those selections were viewed by many as surprises.

Drummond said in his initial interview on ESPN that he's "a hard worker" who's willing to prove people wrong who question whether or not he has the "motor" to succeed in the NBA.

In the second round, the Pistons selected Khris Middleton, a small forward from Texas A&M.

Middleton spent three seasons at Texas A&M, peaking as a sophomore, scoring 14.4 points per game in 2010-2011.   He suffered an injury before his junior season and scored 13.2 points per game last year.

They also selected Kim English, a guard from Missouri with the 44th-overall selection.  English played four seasons at Missouri, finishing his senior year with a 14.9 points per game.

ESPN's on-air analysis of English: He played power forward in Missouri's four-guard offense. The Pistons are getting blue-collar guy with phenomenal intangibles