West Adelaide axed a US import from its men’s Premier League team due to “attitude issues”

West Adelaide Basketball Club has axed one of its US imports due to “attitude issues”.

Former West Adelaide US import Shane Heyward, pictured shooting the ball, was axed by the Bearcats for “attitude issues”. Picture: Roar Photographics SA

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West Adelaide has axed one of its men’s US imports due to “attitude issues”.

Bearcats coach Corey Maclean made the decision to send Shane Heyward packing after West’s 20-point loss to reigning champion Southern Tigers at Morphett Vale on Thursday night.

Hayward arrived at West this season after playing with Ostioneros de Guaymas in the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico – a league in northwestern Mexico.

Maclean would not elaborate on why Heyward, who averaged 13.3 points from seven games so far this campaign, was dumped.

But said he was not fitting with the club’s culture.

“(There was) a few issues with his (Hayward’s) attitude and intent, so we made that change,” Maclean said.

“He wasn’t really connected, wasn’t really here, we felt, so we thought it was best to move him on.

“We are hoping that’s the first step to us getting back to the way we played in the pre-season.

“Hopefully some other guys step up and we can get our season back on track.”

Heyward’s fellow US import Bryan Jefferson received praise from Maclean after topscoring with 24 points and amassing 13 rebounds in the Bearcats’ 113-93 loss to Southern.

West Adelaide US import Bryan Jefferson. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

“Bryan is fine, he’s going really well and we are really happy with him.

“(But) we’ve got some issues defensively at the moment.

“We aren’t really locking in and getting stops.

“Southern pretty much ran passed us all night so it was extremely disappointing.”

Maclean hoped to announce a replacement for Heyward in the coming days.

The Bearcats are eighth with a 3-4 record ahead of their clash with Woodville at home on Anzac Day.

West Adelaide’s women suffered a heartbreaking 67-63 loss to Southern in the earlier match at Morphett Vale on Thursday night.