For Katie Davis, a burden has been lifted.

On Monday, the standout Academy of the Holy Names senior guard committed to the University of Pennsylvania after making an official visit over the weekend.

“(The University of Pennsylvania) is exactly what I was looking for,” Davis said. “I can play at the Division I level and get an Ivy League education. The Wharton business school is the top school in the country. I’ll still be a Rays fan even though I’ll be living in Philadelphia.”

Davis, who led Hillsborough County in scoring last year, also considered Emory, West Point, Washington University, Cornell, MIT, Harvard and the University of Chicago.

“Since they offered, I might as well take it early,” Davis said. “I can play my game and not have to worry about recruiting. It was a relief when I committed. I really liked the players and coaches. They run a four-guard offense and they run an up-tempo offense.”

Davis said she participated in Penn’s elite camp this past summer and will likely play shooting guard for the Quakers, which will give her the opportunity to become a go-to scorer.

The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 21.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.2 steals as a junior and was named to the Tribune All-County first-team.

Davis led the Jaguars to a 18-10 record and Class 3A regional appearance last year. As a sophomore, she helped the team reach the Class 3A state tournament. She said returning to Lakeland, the site of the state tournament, will be an ideal ending to her prep career.

“That’s the ultimate goal, to go to Lakeland,” she said. ”