While most NBA fans relaxed on the couch for a weekend of All-Star festivities, the 12-year-old Borges was actually a part of the event. The 5-foot-3 guard was named to the 2007-08 Junior NBA-Junior WNBA National Team and was one of 10 players chosen out of more than 830,000 applicants to travel to New Orleans. The group was invited to watch the NBA All-Star Game activities Saturday before playing in a game against a team from New Orleans on Sunday. Borges, a seventh-grader, plays for her school team at The San Francisco School, as well as an Amateur Athletic Union team, a team through the Olympic Club and a CYO team.

How did you feel when you found out you would be going to New Orleans? I heard I would be going a few weeks ago, and I was really excited.

What kind of a player are you? Well, I’m working on my shooting. I’m more of a ball-handler right now.

Do you ever watch any of the San Francisco teams play? I go to some of the high school games and I really like watching Sacred Heart Cathedral. They’re so fast and play great defense.

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What’s the best game you’ve ever had? [A few weeks ago] my school team played KIPP and I had 35 points, which is the most I’ve ever had. I was really determined because we needed to win to make the playoffs. (They won the championship last week.)

With all these teams, do you have time for anything besides basketball? I usually play eight to 10 hours of basketball a week, I guess. But I also play tennis, swim and play volleyball. And at school, I’m on the student council and sometimes help kids with their homework.