A new mural has been placed inside the gymnasium where Chapin spent countless hours training; now it’s serving as inspiration to a new wave of athletes.

SKAGIT COUNTY, Wash. — Inside the Skagit County gym where Ethan Chapin honed his skills, the former Mt. Vernon basketball player is now memorialized with a mural. 

Visitors and athletes who enter Tyler Amaya’s PNW Rain training facility are greeted by an image of Chapin dressed in his basketball uniform. 

Beneath the image is a plaque, explaining his long connection to Amaya and his program. 

“Ethan was a bright light — full of warmth, authenticity, and an energy that made others feel seen and valued,” the plaque reads.

Chapin was coached by Amaya from fourth grade through high school. 

Amaya said Chapin spent countless hours inside the gym. 

“I think Ethan just loved life. He loved basketball, he loved people, he loved to play,” he said.

Long before Chapin and three other University of Idaho students were killed on Nov. 13, 2022, Amaya developed a bond with Chapin and his siblings.

Amaya coached Chapin for about eight years.

“It kind of grew into this brotherhood. Ethan was friends with everybody. To know Ethan was to love Ethan,” he told KING. “When I see that [mural], there are so many amazing kids that come through those doors. It’s just a reminder there is a little bit of Ethan in all these kids.”

The mural is just the latest way Amaya is honoring Chapin.

His group is holding a 3-on-3 tournament Aug. 16-17, which helps raise money for scholarships and open gym time as part of Hoop for the Valley, the charitable organization Amaya founded in 2023 to honor Chapin.

The organization helps connect low-income children to the game of basketball. 

Chapin’s twin siblings Hunter and Maizie serve as board members.

On Thursday, Amaya hosted a series of clinics for a wide range of basketball players. 

The evening session included high school and college athletes, including Gonzaga-bound Davis Fogle, who grew up playing with Chapin.

“He always had a smile on his face just encouraging everybody. He was super fun to be around, he never had a bad day,” Fogle said. “It’s an awesome way to honor him through basketball. It can inspire people in many ways. It shows Ethan respect and that we love him.”

At the end of the clinic, the group gathered and bowed their heads. On the count of three, they yelled “Ethan,” a not-so-subtle reminder that many of the gym’s values are rooted in Chapin’s legacy.