Schoonover Starts College Career

Fresno State coach Ryan McCarthy called Ryleigh Schoonover the best player in the area for her class of 2026. The assessment comes from the head coach of the Bulldogs women's basketball program, which Schoonover joined after graduating from Clovis West.

Schoonover spent her high school years with the Golden Eagles, a program that has won the Central Section championship for 14 consecutive years. That long run of titles established a standard of success that Schoonover credits for her development. She said her former coach, Craig Campbell, prepared her for the demands of the college level by maintaining high expectations at every practice.

"Everything is the standard," Schoonover said. She noted that this mindset carried over from the high school gym to the college floor. McCarthy agreed, stating that the experience of playing in a championship program readied her for the expectations placed on her in college.

Schoonover chose to stay in the Central Valley rather than attend a school outside the area. She said wearing the valley "V" on her chest holds a specific meaning that people outside the region may not fully understand. "To wear that valley 'V' on your chest, it's something different," she said.

Campbell, who coached Schoonover at Clovis West, said the goal at his school is always to compete for a title, even if they do not win every year. "We want to be good every year," Campbell said. "We're not going to win it every year, but we want to be knocking on the door every year."

Schoonover now joins a Fresno State team that is competing in the Pac-12. McCarthy said the freshman proved her worth to the coaching staff immediately upon arrival. He noted that her background in a winning program means the expectation to perform is constant when she steps on the court.

Fresno State opens its season against UC Merced in less than two weeks. Schoonover will play her first college game at the Save Mart Center. Campbell believes the best is yet to come for the new Bulldog. "I think that's one of the things that's so exciting for Coach McCarthy and the staff is she's just scratching the surface on what a gifted player she could be for them," Campbell said.