Clovis West champion Ryleigh Schoonover starts her Fresno State career close to home

Ryleigh Schoonover is beginning the next stage of her basketball career at Fresno State, and the habits she built at Clovis West are coming with her. The former Golden Eagles star is entering her first season with the Bulldogs women's program as part of a talented freshman class.

Clovis West girls basketball has become known for sustained success. For the past 14 years, the Golden Eagles have won consecutive Central Section championships, a run that has made title expectations part of the program's identity. Coach Craig Campbell said the goal is to stay in the hunt every season. "We want to be good every year," he said. "We're not going to win it every year, but we want to be knocking on the door every year."

As another group of standout players left the program, Schoonover decided to remain near home rather than leave the area. She said playing for Fresno State carries a special meaning. "To wear that valley 'V' on your chest, it's something different," Schoonover said, adding that most people outside the valley do not understand that.

Fresno State coach Ryan McCarthy has been quick to praise the newcomer. "In my opinion, Riley was the best player in the area for her class of 2026," McCarthy said. "Riley came in and proved that right away."

Schoonover arrives with a winning background after helping Clovis West claim section titles. She now joins a Fresno State team that is pursuing a Pac-12 championship. She credited Campbell for preparing her for the demands of McCarthy's program, saying that at both levels, "Everything is the standard."

McCarthy said her time in a championship program has readied her for what is expected in college. "She played with a very good high school basketball program here, and all they did was win," he said. "And so, that's the expectation when she sets out on the floor."

Her college debut is approaching. Fresno State's season opener against UC Merced is less than two weeks away, and Schoonover is preparing to play her first game at the Save Mart Center.

Campbell, her former coach, believes the best is still to come. "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," he said.