How new Eagleville boys basketball coach's son — Ryley McClaran — has made big impact already

EAGLEVILLE — First-year Eagleville boys basketball coach Davy McClaran is a 16-year coaching veteran.

His son, Ryley, has been a star basketball player since his freshman season at Forrest.

But, Davy had never coached Ryley until this season.

It's safe to say the two are enjoying the experience. Eagleville basketball fans are surely happy with it as well.

"It's been a lot of emotions," said Davy McClaran, a former Eagleville standout himself. "It's been fun, but I also have to remind myself that I'm his coach, not his dad. I don't want to put too much pressure on him."

When longtime Eagleville boys coach Joey Reed stepped down after last season, Davy McClaran decided to get back into coaching. He spent 15 years guiding Forrest's boys until taking the job as the school's principal in 2011.

With Davy came Ryley, a junior who averaged more than 22 points and scored 51 in one contest last season at Forrest.

The Eagles already had high expectations, returning several starters from a 17-win team and a region appearance. But those expectations skyrocketed by adding Ryley McClaran.

So far the left-handed sharpshooter hasn't disappointed, averaging 28 points.

"I already knew how competitive this team was," said Ryley, who scored 27 points  to lead Eagleville to a 66-50 win over Community on Tuesday. "I was just hoping to come in and help them get even better."

The Eagles were poised for a postseason run last year before a scoreboard error in the region quarterfinals against LEAD Academy dashed their hopes and ended their season.

With Ryley McClaran added to the mix, Eagleville is off to an 8-2 start.

"When we heard Ryley was coming, our expectations were high," said forward Mari Stoudemire, who scored 19 in Tuesday's win. "Our goal is reaching the state … no less.

"Ryley is the type of player you want on your team. Summer really helped (the team gel). He showed what he can do, but we knew he was a talented player."

Ryley McClaran has grown considerably since his freshman year at Forrest. He was 5-foot-7 that season. He is now 6-foot-2.

"Sometimes he forgets how tall he is," said Davy. "Sometimes he still feels like he has to make the extra move when he's attacking the bucket. That's his biggest challenge. He's not little anymore."

Ryley McClaran has high games of 39 and 35 this season, but his teammates have been heavily involved in the offense. Stoudemire, Ethan Cobb and Jordan Davenport are averaging around double figures.

"For the most part we haven't played a team that has focused (defensively) just on Ryley," said Davy McClaran. "(District) teams will probably face-guard him and focus more on him. I have confidence in our other guys (when that happens)."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

More:Tuesday's Murfreesboro area high school basketball top performers