Fresno State Opener Looms for Local Guard Schoonover

The Fresno State women’s basketball program enters the 2026-27 season with a local point guard ready to play in her home arena. Ryleigh Schoonover, a standout from Clovis West, joins the Bulldogs as a freshman, bringing a background defined by sustained high school success to the Pac-12 conference.

Schoonover completed her high school career at Clovis West, a program that has won the Central Section championship in 14 consecutive years. Her former coach, Craig Campbell, noted that this streak created a culture where high performance is the baseline. "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."

The move to Fresno State kept Schoonover within the Central Valley, a decision she described as distinct from other transfer options. "To wear that valley 'V' on your chest, it’s something different," she said. "Most people outside the valley do not understand that." She credited Campbell for preparing her for the professional standards of the college game, stating, "Everything is the standard."

Fresno State head coach Ryan McCarthy has evaluated Schoonover as the top talent in her local recruiting class. "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." He indicated that her time in a winning high school program has aligned her expectations with those of the college roster. "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."

The Bulldogs are preparing for their season opener against UC Merced, a game scheduled for less than two weeks from now. Schoonover will play her first college game at the Save Mart Center, the same venue where she competed in high school tournaments. Campbell, who continues to coach at Clovis West, expects Schoonover to continue developing as the season progresses. "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.