You’ve seen players use hats, puppies and hidden jerseys … but the newest way top college prospects are announcing their school decisions — COVID MASKS!!

R.J. Keene — a top H.S. basketball player in Texas — set the new trend Thursday … heading to a table full of face coverings to drum up excitement for his college choice.

Custom masks with logos from Utah State, Hawaii, George Washington and a few others were lined up … with news cameras rolling to see which one the 6’7″, 190-pound forward would choose!

In the end, Keene locked in on the Boise State mask, picked it up and put it on — and boom!

He unveiled a Broncos shirt as well — and it was all met with applause.

Unique, right?!

FYI — Keene’s a baller … dude had offers from a ton of schools after lighting up courts in Texas — so the Mountain West Conference is getting a pretty good one.

Good at hoops AND creative AND following coronavirus safety protocols?!?? Boise’s gonna love him!!!