Kai, Kye, and Ry

Three Mariners honoured as PACWEST conference all-stars with forward Kai Leighton also named Defensive Player of the Year

Kai Leighton, Ryan Bastian, and Kye Kotapski-Tinga - VIU Mariners men's basketball — (L-R) Mariners Kai Leighton, Ryan Bastian, and Kye Kotapski-Tinga celebrate late in an overtime game against the Langara Falcons in November 2025. All three were named PACWEST all-stars with Leighton also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award. Photo: Mary Kessenich

March 6, 2026

NANAIMO - Congratulations to a trio of Mariners who were voted 2025-26 PACWEST conference all-stars: Kai Leighton, Kye Kotapski-Tinga, and Ryan Bastian.

PACWEST Media Release: Men's Basketball All-Stars
Player photos by Mary Kessenich

Kai Leighton: First Team All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year

Kai Leighton of the VIU Mariners
The VIU offensive and defensive schemes flow through Kai. He regularly matches up with and is challenged to neutralize taller players while rarely leaving the court, averaging 32 mins/game, and never sacrificing his offensive contributions. Kai is a hybrid player who moves the basketball with seeing-eye precision and can shoot from distance like a guard or earn tough buckets under the hoop as a forward. As a distributor, he leads the conference in ATO ratio (3.3) and sits fifth in assists; as a shooter, he sits fourth (52%) in FG percentage and second (45.7%) in three point percentage; as a rebounder, he's fifth in rebounds and defensive rebounds per game; as a leader, he averages 31.8 min/game and makes his teammates better.

Ryan Bastian: Second Team All-Star

Ryan Bastian of the VIU Mariners
Ryan was trusted heavily as VIU's point guard. He led the Mariners in court time at 32.4 minutes per game, good for seventh in the conference. He earned 100 assists—tying him for top spot in the PACWEST—and finished second in conference steals. He also finished the season fourth in ATO ratio (2.3), sixth in three-point percentage, and ninth in field goal percentage (46.1%). He was also VIU's second-leading rebounder and earned 19 rebounds in one game this season.

Kye Kotapski-Tinga: Second Team All-Star

Kye Kotapski-Tinga of the VIU Mariners
Kye's athleticism and strength went to the next level this season and he became a fan favourite thanks to his fearless drives to the hoop. A PACWEST player of the week and VIU's leading scorer (16.7 ppg) over the entire season, Kye averaged more than 27 minutes/game, sits fifth in conference scoring, third in points/40 (25), and had a 38-point game in November. He's also tenth in conference steals and 17th in assists.