Clifton McNeeley was the first ever draft pick in NBA history. He was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Ironmen in 1947. The 1947 draft was the first ever draft held by the NBA, than the BAA, and McNeeley made more history by becoming the first #1 draft pick to never play in the NBA.

The NBA was in its infancy and the 5'10" McNeeley had just graduated from Texas Wesleyan University and the NBA did not seem all that promising. Add to that, the instability of the Pittsburgh franchise and McNeeley's choice was easy. He stayed in Texas and went on to coach high school basketball, he also became a high school teacher and eventually a principal.

McNeeley never played basketball after his Texas Wesleyan days, even though he worked for Philips 66 in Bartlesville, OK, who at the time ran the AAU Phillips 66ers which were one of the great AAU teams of the era

McNeeley and 1951 #1 pick Gene Melchiorre are the only #1 picks in NBA history to never play in the NBA.