Sophomore forward Bonae Holston is the type of player that kicks back and lets her play on the court do all the talking. But she’s the last player to boast of her achievements or get too rowdy on the court.

“I’m not really vocal,” Holston said. “But I think you can have vocal leaders and then those who lead by example, which is more of my role on the team.”

The Newport News, Va. native has done just that, which has reflected tremendously in her numbers. She currently leads the Wolfpack in scoring with 202 points, at a clip of 11.9 per game. She has been the top scorer in six of seventeen games, an improvement from leading in two games one year ago.

As the top rebounder, Holston has come up with 112 rebounds in seventeen games. She is also atop the team leader board in six other major statistical categories.

Coach Kellie Harper has seen Holston’s ability to lead in various situations and said she has played a major role on and off the court this season.

“Bo’s not the most vocal person on the court. But our players are going to look at her, to her, because she can score,” Harper said. “When your best scorer is showing how to get rebounds and steals and being aggressive and wanting the ball – that gives our whole team a better attitude.”

At a young age, Holston had no idea that basketball would bring her to where she is today. She picked up a basketball at the age of six and let natural talent and practice lead the way.

“Where I lived, I had a friend who played basketball with me, but she at least knew how to play,” Holston said. “With the competitive spirit I have, I just thought, ‘I want to play, I want to be good too,’ so that’s what drove me to play basketball.”

Growing up in an area where nearly everyone plays basketball at some point, Holston just wanted to be like the rest of the neighborhood.

“You just want to fit in with everybody, and you just play,” Holston said. “I never stopped.”

Her basketball career took off at Heritage High School, where she led the varsity team to a four-year record of 95-18. Holston took home Virginia AAA Player of the Year after winning the state championship to end a 32-2 senior season. Ironically, she was sidelined by injuries during the two losses.

When Holston was ready to make a college commitment, she knew that N.C. State was meant to be her home. Holston, like other recruits, knew there was something special about the legacy that legendary coach Kay Yow had instilled in the program. But conference competition was the major draw to Raleigh.

“The big deciding factor had to be the ACC and the excitement that comes with it,” Holston said. “The atmosphere down here wasn’t much different from home, but it was still a change and I knew I wanted to come here.”

Following the passing of Yow and the departure of long-standing assistant coach Stephanie Glance was the arrival of a new face in Harper. Holston found the transition to a new coach to be easy, as she was still in the early stages of her collegiate career.

She has been able to see a change in the team on the court, which she attributes to an up-tempo style of play.

“I think that style of play gets everyone involved more,” Holston said. “You never know on any given night who’s going to be the leading scorer. And everyone has evolved more with this offense.”

Under the guidance of Harper, Holston has had an explosive year, which stems from intense conditioning and wisdom that comes with experience.

“I’m in much better shape than I was last year, for one thing,” Holston said. “But more so, in your freshman year, you’re just not adjusted too much – you’re still learning and trying to figure out collegiate basketball.”

While seeing action in all 30 games last season, Holston only started four games. This year, she has started in all seventeen contests, averaging 26.2 minutes per game.

Although learning and improving is a continuous process for any athlete, Holston has left behind those first-year nerves and replaced them with growing confidence.

“As a sophomore, I’m out there and I know what to expect,” Holston said. “So I can go back and just play.”

Harper has been molding Holston into the player she has the potential to be and into a vital asset to the team.

“We’re trying to challenge Bonae to be not just a good player, but a great player,” Harper said. “Most of that is coming on the defensive end, with rebounding, or with her being a little bit more aggressive.”

There is an intense side to the stand-out sophomore that Harper is trying to bring out.

“I want her to be able to take charges like Lucy Ellison,” Harper said. “And I want her demanding the basketball every time down the floor because those are the type of things that will elevate her game.”

The stealthy leader will continue to put up numbers for the Pack and has high hopes for post-season play.

“If we go out playing hard every night, with the intensity this team has, I know our chances of making the ACC and NCAA tournament will be very high,” Holston said. “I believe we can do well in those competitions.”

The Pack will look, in part, to Holston to continue to step up on the court down the stretch in ACC play. Harper said she wants Holston to utilize her ability in every situation on the court.

“She can score,” Harper said. “She can put the ball in the hole and we need her to take more shots for our team.”