SPANISH FORT, Alabama — The Spanish Fort Toros’ seven seniors will go a long way in helping first-year coach Dru Powell in his transition from Gulf Shores to Spanish Fort this year.

But only one of those seven Toros started for Spanish Fort last year. Danny Rose returns as a high impact shooter and ball handler, but overall some nine Toros graduated last year after leading SF to a 16-14 finish.

Seniors Kawan Atkinson, Jaleel Cousins, Brendan McCants, Demarco Montgomery, Otis Smith and Kevin Townsend will join Rose and six juniors on The Hill for 2011-12.

Ed Autry, Kaleb Hall, Carter Jones, J..D Powell and Grant Schumacher will make up the roster for a limited experience junior faction.

Rose may be the most experienced Toro, but Cousins is a transfer from LeFlore who anchored the Rattlers middle with a 6-foot-10 frame and will be drawing Division I scouts. Cousins’ brother Demarcus helped lead LeFlore to state titles and later the Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA National Championship and now plays in the NBA.

The Toros versus LeFlore and SFHS versus GSHS should be as intense as ever with Powell and Cousins coming from two area rivals to a third. But with Vigor the fourth team in 5A Area 2 to make it arguably the toughest four-team league in the state, there will not be much time for what ifs once the ball is tipped.

Like Bayside, Daphne and Fairhope, SFHS has several players still playing football in the state playoffs.

The Toros boys’ home basketball opener hosting Fairhope has been changed to Nov. 21.