Coach Bashir Mason’s club secured a verbal pledge from Greg Senat, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound power forward from Thompson (Conn.) Marianapolis Prep.

The Elmont, N.Y., native also considered Drexel, St. Bonaventure, Manhattan, Rider and Binghamton.

“I chose Wagner because they are a program on the rise,” Senat told SNY.tv. “They’re doing special things over there.

“I have a great relationship with Coach Bashir, [Mike] Babul and Marquis [Webb]. They play hard and they win. That’s something I want to do. I’ll bring toughness, rebounding and an inside and outside game to Wagner.”

Senat is Wagner’s first commit in 2013 and is expected to make an immediate impact on the glass and with low-post scoring.

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St. John’s and Wagner combined to get three of the top six plays on the SportsCenter  Top 10 Friday night — all on dunks — but Mizzou’s Keion Bell took the No. 1 spot with the above dunk over six people courtesy WMOUSports.

Wagner senior Josh Thompson came in at No. 2 with this  dunk over two people — his parents, Josh and Diane.

Thompson does clip his dad a little off the head as he tries to stick the landing, but, still, this is one of the most creative dunks you’ll ever see.

St. John’s frosh JaKarr Sampson chimed in at No. 4 thanks to this assist from fellow frosh Orlando Sanchez.

Michigan State transfer Dwaun Anderson wasn’t outdone, though. He came in at No. 6 thanks to this

through-the-legs gem.

(Courtesy Wagner Athletics)

Wagner announced on Friday afternoon that Dwaun Anderson, Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan as a senior in 2011, has received a waiver from the NCAA and will be eligible to play beginning this semester. He will have four full years of eligibility remaining after transferring from Michigan State.

Anderson spent the 2011 summer session in East Lansing, transferred to Wagner in January of 2012 and and has yet to play a college basketball game.

“It’s obviously great news for us,” Mason said in a statement. “With Dwaun available it means we can begin establishing our identity as team as soon as practice begins.”

The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.9 blocks per game for Suttons Bay High School. Rivals had the three-time All-State selection ranked as the No. 95 player and No. 25 shooting guard in the Class of 2011.

With Anderson in the fold along with returning starters Kenny Ortiz, Latif Rivers, Jonathan Williams and Naofall Folahan, the Seahawks appear to be the biggest threat to two-time defending NEC Tournament champion Long Island University.

“He’s a really high level athlete,” Mason said. “Dwaun is capable of doing the kind of things you see in NBA films, and now we won’t have to deal with two different teams this season, one with him and one without him.”

Under former head coach Dan Hurley, who has since left to take the head coaching job at the University of Rhode Island, Wagner went 25-6 last season, which included a win at then-No. 15 Pitt. The Seahawks fell to Robert Morris, 71-64, the NEC Tournament semifinals.

Photo: Wagner Athletics

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Jay Harris,

“I chose Wagner because they were the best fit academically and athletically,” the 6-foot-2, 160-pound guard told SNY.tv.

“Their style of basketball fits my game perfectly. I also like that their philosophy is family.”

An Aurora, IL native, Harris averaged 9.0 points and 2.6 assists last season at Valpo.

“I can shoot the ball and pass it pretty well,” he said.

He must sit out a year per transfer rules and will then have two years of eligibility remaining.

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Marquis Web

“We are extremely happy to have Marquis join our Wagner Basketball family,” Mason said. “He is a rising star in the coaching profession, but above that he is an outstanding person.”

At George Mason, Webb worked under head coach Paul Hewitt in helping the Patriots to 24 wins last season. He also aided in the development of Ryan Pearson, who became just the third GMU student-athlete to earn Associated Press All-America honors.

“Coach Mason has made an outstanding hire in Marquis Webb,” said Hewitt. “Marquis is extremely loyal, is hardworking and as a former point guard in the Big East at Rutgers, brings a wealth of basketball knowledge to the Wagner staff. I can’t thank him enough for the job he did for me in my first year at George Mason University.”

A native of Paterson, N.J., Webb was a four-year starter at the point guard position for Rutgers, where he scored more than 1,000 points from 2003-7 and was named to the 2006 Defensive All-America Team. Additionally, he ranks 10th all-time in Scarlet Knight annals in career assists (305), 12th in career free throw percentage (.785), tied for 14th in career steals (117) and 36th in career points (1,026.

“First and foremost I would like to thank Bashir for this great opportunity,” said Webb. “He is a friend that I respect and trust. He is also someone that has always worked hard, on and off the court, and I am here to assist him in taking this program to the next level.”

Webb, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in African-American studies from Rutgers, began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Paterson Catholic High School from 2008-2010 while also teaching history. During that time, he also helped coached the Playaz basketball club in 2009 on the AAU circuit and was an assistant director of Team Events for the Hoop Group.

“Marquis was a very talented player on all levels and will bring a great deal of knowledge and experience to our staff and players,” said Mason.

At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Webb played professionally for one year in Hungary and New Zealand along with a stint with the NBDL’s Anaheim Arsenal.

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Dan Hurley

And it happens to be a player who had previously committed to the Rams.

Jordan Hare, a 6-foot-9, 198-pound power forward from Saginaw, Mich., reaffirmed his commitment after meeting Thursday with Hurley and Rhody assistant Preston Murphy.

“Coach Hurley and Preston just stopped by for a home visit and I’m just reaffirming my commitment to Rhode Island,” Hare told SNY.tv during an exclusive interview Thursday.

Hare had initially committed to former Rhody coach Jim Baron last October. Baron was fired last month and replaced quickly by Hurley.

“Coach Hurley told me a lot about his background, his days at St. Benedict’s and Rutgers and recently Wagner and how he took them and in two years tripled their winning record,” he said. “And also he’s got his older brother Bob [Hurley] there. He played in the NBA.

“And they talked to my parents and gave a virtual tour on the computer, the campus, dorm room. So it kind of makes me feel better about everything.”

Hare brings a much-needed frontcourt presence to the Rams.

“I’m just going to try and work hard,” he said. “Obviously, everybody’s dream is the NBA but I feel I have the upper hand on a other kids. I have a lot more potential and I got the skillset.

“Now I’m just going to let Coach Hurley and the coaching staff build me so I can get there and accomplish my dreams.”

WAGNER DUO GETS RELEASES

Mike Aaman and Kameron Mitchell, both of whom had signed Letters of Intent with Wagner before Hurley left for Rhode Island, obtained their releases Thursday. Aaman told SNY.tv he is considering Rhode Island, Monmouth, Iona and La Salle. Mitchell may opt for prep school, sources told SNY.tv.

Bashir Mason

Now he gets his chance to follow Hurley and be his own head man.

Mason on Sunday was named the new head coach at Wagner, replacing Hurley who agreed last week to a six-year, $4 million deal with Rhode Island.

“We’re very excited that Bashir Mason will be the next head men’s basketball coach here at Wagner College,” Wagner AD Walt Hameline said Monday in a statement.

“There was a great deal of interest in this position and we spent the past few days fielding calls from a host of coaches from all parts of the country. In elevating Bashir, we are getting a young, hungry, aggressive coach who I believe will build on the foundation that we now have in place. He also gives us continuity and a bridge to the success we’ve had and will provide our program and student-athletes with great leadership.

SNY.tv on Friday reported that Mason was the favorite to replace Hurley.

“Bashir’s a smart, young person with outstanding character, strong educational orientation and a remarkable work ethic,” said Wagner College President Dr. Richard Guarasci. “I think he’ll be a great representative of the college. We’re excited to have him.”

“I am really excited and thankful for the opportunity that Dr. Guarasci, Walt Hameline and the rest of the Wagner administration has presented me with,” said Mason. “I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the program while continuing to move Wagner Basketball in the direction it has been going the last two years.”

Last week during an exclusive interview, former Wagner assistant Bobby Hurley said he and his brother had hoped for some continuity once they left the Staten Island school for the Atlantic 10.

“Something that we’re hoping for is that there’s some type of continuity that continues,” Bobby said. “We don’t want to see kids in the program leave, so we’re hoping that maybe someone might be able to continue on with what we did would have a good chance at possibly keeping everything together.”

Sources close to Wagner said Mason was the “players’ choice” and his main task now will be in solidifying the strong recruiting class the Hurleys assembled.

Dwaun Anderson, the Michigan State transfer who is eligible at Wagner in the second semester, plans to remain at the school and play for Mason.

“Dwaun really likes Wagner, and will stay there and is excited to play for Bashir and help take Wagner to the next level,” Matt Pauls, who helped Anderson with his recruitment, told SNY.tv.

Wagner also added 6-8 forward Mike Aaman, 6-5 guard Eric Fanning and 6-3 guard Kameron Mitchell for next year.

“I’m going to stay with Bashir,” Fanning told SNY.tv “He has the same style as Danny. Me and Dwaun talked and we want to keep the program strong.”

Mason came to Wagner from Marist College, where he spent two seasons as an assistant where his responsibilities included recruiting and guard development.

Mason began his coaching career at St. Benedict’s during the 2007-2008 season as coach of the school’s prep team, which won the New Jersey State Prep A Title by virture of a victory over Blair Academy.

A native of Jersey City, NJ, Mason played collegiately for Drexel from 2003-2007 after playing scholastically for Hurley at St. Benedict’s.

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“Bashir is meeting with [AD] Walt [Hameline] tonight for final interview,” a source close to the situation told SNY.tv. “I’m 99 percent sure it’s his. He is the player’s choice.”

Mason came to Wagner from Marist College, where he spent two seasons as an assistant where his responsibilities included recruiting and guard development.

Mason began his coaching career at St. Benedict’s during the 2007-2008 season as coach of the school’s prep team, which won the New Jersey State Prep A Title by virture of a victory over Blair Academy.

A native of Jersey City, NJ, Mason played collegiately for Drexel from 2003-2007 after playing scholastically at St. Benedict’s for Hurley at St. Benedict’s.

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“I was offered the job [at Wagner],” Hurley told SNY.tv in his first interview since his brother, Dan, accepted the Rhode Island job Tuesday.

“It was obviously a very difficult decision,” added Hurley, the No. 7 pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. “I believe in the players that are in the program [at Wagner] and the kids that we have in the program. The people who I’ve worked with have been great over the last two years. It’s been a great two years for me.”

Hiring Bobby, the former two-time NCAA champion at Duke, would have established continuity for Wagner and its players. He was an assistant at the school for two years and served as a huge recruiting draw for many of the players (and their parents) in the talented incoming recruiting class.

Asked if he eventually wanted to be a head coach, Bobby said: “Absolutely, I’m doing this for two years and it’s a process. It’s a progression. I think I was ready to do it but the commitment is to Dan. I believe in him and what he’s going to do at Rhode Island and I think there’s a reasons to believe that it could be a success.”

Rhode Island made a strong commitment to Dan and wanted Bobby to come along. Dan agreed to a six-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $4 million.

“I understand Rhode Island made a very strong commitment to Dan and myself in terms of bringing us in here,” said Bobby, who was in attendance Tuesday night at the Izod Center as his father, Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr., led St. Anthony to its 12th New Jersey Tournament of Champions title and back-to-back undefeated seasons.

Asked if he had any concerns that he might not get another head coaching offer soon, Hurley said: ”I do understand the value of being a head coach at a Division 1 program, and not only at a Division 1 program but a program that is definitely moving in the right direction and is coming off a very successful season and has good young players in it.”

Two years after Wagner went 5-26, Dan and Bobby led the Seahawks to a 25-6 record this year. The school failed to land an NIT bid, something that was frustrating for Dan.

“There’s a lot to like about Wagner and I enjoyed working for everyone there, so it made my decision that much harder,” Bobby said.

It remains unclear how much of Dan’s Wagner staff will follow him to Rhode Island.

Bashir Mason, a Wagner assistant and former assistant to Dan at St. Benedict’s Prep, is interested in becoming the head coach at Wagner.

Cincinnati assistant Darren Savino, who played with the Hurleys at St. Anthony, and Iona assistant Jared Grasso, who recruited most of the players on this year’s NCAA Tournament team, are also thought to be potential candidates. Notre Dame assistant Martin Inglesby is also an option.

Bobby Hurley said he and is brother would love to see some continuity at Wagner in order to keep the team and its recruiting class intact. The gem of the recruiting class is 6-4 Dwaun Anderson, a Michigan State transfer who is set to become eligible midseason.

“Something that we’re hoping for is that there’s some type of continuity that continues,” Bobby said. “We don’t want to see kids in the program leave, so we’re hoping that maybe someone might be able to continue on with what we did would have a good chance at possibly keeping everything together.”

While Wagner moves forward with its search, Bobby and Dan must now forge ahead, transplanting their families and their lives from New Jersey to Rhode Island.

“It’s going to be a transition,” Bobby said. “I love the New York area. Most of my family is there, my wife’s family, so it’s definitely a leap of faith. It will be a transition. I have children who are going through an adjustment, too, so there are a lot of things to consider in this decision but ultimately we thought it was the right fit for our family.”

Photo: Wagner College

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After visiting Rhode Island Saturday, Hurley made the decision Monday night upon talking it over with his wife, Andrea, and their two sons, Danny (12) and Andrew (10).

Hurley, 39, will sign a six-year deal worth approximately $4 million. He will be officially introduced at a press conference Wednesday.

“We are thrilled to name Dan Hurley as our new head men’s basketball coach,” Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn said.  “Dan is a proven winner at every level and I am looking forward to partnering with him to build on the solid foundation we have in place.  Our goals are to compete for  – and win  – Atlantic 10 Championships and advance to play in NCAA Tournaments.”

Wagner tried to keep Hurley with a significant pay raise offer, but the opportunity for more money, more exposure and greater competition was simply too much for the former St. Benedict’s Prep coach and son of Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley of St. Anthony.

Bobby Hurley, Dan’s older brother and a former two-time NCAA champion at Duke, appears likely to follow his brother to the Atlantic 10 as an assistant, although no official statement has been made on the matter. Bobby is mentioned in Rhode Island’s release introducing Dan, but he is not listed as an assistant coach.

“I’d like to thank Dan Hurley and his staff for the many contributions they made to Wagner basketball in their two years here,” Wagner AD Walt Hameline said. “The turnaround they orchestrated was nothing short of phenomenal. With the success we had and the exposure the program generated, we knew Dan would be an attractive candidate for other programs. I am confident that we will attract an outstanding coach who will build on the success of Wagner Seahawk basketball.”

Hameline said a national search will begin immediately. Several early possibilities include Norfolk State head coach Anthony Evans, Cincinnati assistant Darren Savino, a former St. Anthony player, and New Jersey native Scott Adubato, a Florida International assistant.

“I expect he’ll get some calls,” Norfolk State athletic director Marty Miller told The Sporting News in relation to Evans, 40.

Whoever the new coach is will have to maintain Wagner’s strong recruiting class that includes Michigan State transfer Dwaun Anderson, a former Mr. Basketball in Michigan.

In two years under Hurley, Wagner went 38-23, 24-12 in the Northeast Conference.

Hurley led Wagner to a 25-6 record this season after the program went 5-26 two years ago.

The Seahawks lost in the Northeast Conference semifinals to Robert Morris and were not offered an NIT bid.

Just two years ago, Hurley left St. Benedict’s Prep after compiling a record of 223-21 in nine seasons.

Earlier this month, Rhode Island fired coach Jim Baron following a 7-24 season.

“URI is committed to excellence across the board, including intercollegiate athletics,” said David M. Dooley, URI President. “Hiring Dan Hurley as our new head coach in men’s basketball reflects that commitment. We are delighted that Dan shares our vision to build a high quality program that puts the student-athlete first and competes at the highest level, and we are confident that he will be successful here.”

Photo: NY Post