Schoonover joins Fresno State roster after 14-year Clovis West title streak
The guard credits her high school coach for preparing her for the Pac-12, as the Bulldogs open their season against UC Merced.
By Emily Carter ·
Ryleigh Schoonover is set to play her first college basketball game at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. The guard will make her debut for Fresno State in the season opener against UC Merced, a contest scheduled for less than two weeks from now.
Schoonover arrives at the Bulldogs program with a specific background. She spent her high school career at Clovis West, a program that secured 14 consecutive Central Section championships. This sustained run of titles established winning as the standard expectation for the Golden Eagles. Schoonover chose to stay local for her collegiate career rather than play in another region.
Coach Ryan McCarthy of Fresno State has evaluated the newcomer highly. He stated that Schoonover was the best player in the area for the class of 2026. McCarthy noted that she proved this assessment immediately upon joining the team. He emphasized that her experience in a high school program where the only expectation was victory has prepared her for the college floor.
Schoonover attributes her readiness for the next level to her former coach, Craig Campbell. She said that Campbell prepared her for the demands of McCarthy's system. She noted that at both the high school and college levels, everything is held to a strict standard. The guard also expressed a personal connection to the region. She said that wearing the valley V on her chest is a distinct feeling that people outside the area often do not understand.
Campbell, who coached the Golden Eagles during their championship years, believes the team remains in the hunt annually. He stated that the goal is to be good every year, even if they do not win the title every season. He described Schoonover as a gifted player who is just beginning to show her full potential. Campbell added that this trajectory is exciting for McCarthy and the Fresno State staff.
The Bulldogs are currently competing in the Pac-12 Conference. Schoonover joins a freshman class that McCarthy describes as talented. Her transition from a dominant high school program to a college team pursuing a conference championship marks the start of her collegiate career. The team will host UC Merced to begin the season at the local arena.
Source: ABC30 Action News
