Clifton McNeely was an American basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 player and coach. McNeely graduated from Slidell High School in Slidell, Texas.

After serving with the United States Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Corps

The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...

 in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, McNeely played basketball at Texas Wesleyan University

Texas Wesleyan University

Texas Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university founded by the United Methodist Church in 1890. The main campus is located in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, with branch campuses in Burleson and downtown Fort Worth.-History:Texas Wesleyan...

. He earned All-American honors in 1947 after leading the nation in scoring, and was selected with the first pick of the 1947 BAA Draft

1947 BAA Draft

The 1947 BAA Draft was the inaugural draft of the Basketball Association of America , which later became the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on July 1, 1947 before the 1947–48 season. In this draft, nine remaining BAA teams along with the Baltimore Bullets who joined the BAA...

 by the Pittsburgh Ironmen

Pittsburgh Ironmen

The Pittsburgh Ironmen were a charter member of the Basketball Association of America . The team was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They ended their only season in the BAA in 1946-47 with a record of 15-45, finishing in fifth and last place in the Western Division and worst overall in the league...

. However, McNeely never played professional basketball, opting to coach at Pampa High School in Texas. He coached for 13 years and won four state championships. He was later inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He later became an assistant coach from 1993-1994 for the Houston Cougars men's basketball

Houston Cougars men's basketball

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in Houston, Texas in U.S. NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The university is a member of Conference USA...

 team under Alvin Brooks

Alvin Brooks

Alvin Brooks is an associate coach and former head coach of the University of Houston's men's basketball team. Prior to heading back to Houston, he most recently served as Director of Basketball Operations for the Kentucky Wildcats. He coached the Houston Cougars from 1993 to 1998...

.