Julie Chen introduces the cast of the 11th season of "Big Brother."

The 12 strangers moving into the "Big Brother" house are being cast into roles that will flash them back to high school. They will be playing the game as one of four familiar high-school cliques: popular, athlete, brainiac or misfit, and they have to compete for their food, safety from eviction and luxury prizes as part of their clique.

"You may have graduated, but the truth is we never leave high school and this summer we are going to prove it," says Allison Grodner, executive producer of "Big Brother." "From the brains to the jocks to the off-beat, everyone will be able to identify to one of these cliques, giving the viewers a group to root for and against from the very beginning. The division will cause instant drama."

These are the 12 competitors who will compete in the 11th season:

Braden Bacham, 28, Santa Monica, CA, single, surfer
Casey Turner, 41, St. Petersburg, FL, married with children, fifth-grade teacher
Chima Simone, 32, West Hollywood, CA, single, freelance journalist
Jeff Schroeder, 30, Norridge, IL, single, advertising salesman
Jordan Lloyd, 22, Matthews, NC, single, waitress
Kevin Campbell, 29, Chula Vista, CA, single, graphic designer
Laura Crosby, 21, Atlanta, GA, single, bikini model
Lydia Tavera, 24, Torrance, CA, single, special effects make-up artist
Michele Noonan, 27, Pasadena, CA, married, neuroscientist
Natalie Martinez, 24, Gilbert, AZ, single, Tae Kwon Do champion
Ronnie Talbott, 30, Belpre, OH, married, gamer
Russell Kairouz, 24, Walnut Creek, CA, single, mixed martial arts fighter

"Big Brother" premieres Thursday, July 9 at 8 p.m. on CBS.