Navy basketball star David Robinson has been...

Navy basketball star David Robinson has been notified that he will serve only two years on active duty after graduation in May, possibly opening the way for an early professional career for the 7-foot 1-inch center.

After the two-year full-time service, he will serve four years with limited duties. Most Naval Academy graduates must serve five years of full-time active duty.

The four years of limited duty will be served in the drilling reserve, meaning Robinson would be a civilian and serve as a reservist one weekend a month and be on active duty two weeks a year.

“At 7-foot-1, Robinson will be the tallest midshipman ever to graduate from the Naval Academy,” a Navy spokesman said. “Robinson has stated that he wanted to serve in the Navy. And it’s been determined that he can make the greatest contribution in the Naval Reserve.”

The Navy informed Robinson that he is too tall to serve as an unrestricted line officer, which means he cannot serve in submarines, ships, airplanes or warfare specialties. The height limit is 6-6.

Instead, Robinson would serve as a restricted line officer or as a staff officer.