This is the season Curie has been waiting for.
The Condors exceeded expectations last year, finishing second in the Public League and playing in a Class 4A sectional final after coming into the season with no returning starters.
Now no one will be overlooking a battle-tested team with eight seniors — many of whom were part of back-to-back city championship teams at the frosh-soph level in 2023 and the varsity level in 2024.
The Condors gave a glimpse of what to expect when they went 4-0 at the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout on June 20-21, beating Waukegan 62-57, Notre Dame 49-45, Lake Park 43-28 and West Aurora 51-39.
Leading the way, as he did toward the end of last season, was rising senior guard Justin Oliver.
The comeback win over Waukegan — like Curie, a Chicago-area Top 25 team last season — showcased the Condors’ trademarks: aggressive defense, up-tempo offense and relentless energy.
“It’s our second time playing them (this summer),” Oliver said. “Both times it felt like a state playoff (game).”
The biggest piece missing from last year’s 24-10 team is graduated senior Brad Johnson Jr. In his absence, Oliver’s role has evolved.
“I love that I’ve got to be more of a playmaker now,” Oliver said. “Last year I was more of a scorer.”
Given what they accomplished with a younger group, it only makes sense that the Condors want even more hardware this winter.
“We’ve got the bar set high this year,” Oliver said. “I think a little bit higher than last year, to be honest.”
What does that look like?
“Everything,” Oliver said. “From (the) Pontiac (Holiday Tournament to state, all the way through.”
What parts of his game has Oliver been working on to help the Condors check off those boxes?
“Getting to my spots better,” Oliver said. “Being able to pick a spot on the floor and just get to it and knock down shots, make open 3s.”
As he prepares for what he hopes will be a memorable senior season, Oliver is also navigating recruiting.
“It’s going good right now.” he said, adding that UIC and Northern Illinois are among the schools that have shown interest.
Other players ready to step up for the Condors include seniors Michael Oliver Jr., Kendall Holiday and Saquan Cummings along with junior Tobias Banks.
But there’s no doubt who Curie’s focal point is. That’s why it’s a good sign that coach Mike Oliver has seen Justin Oliver grow in one particular area.
“Leadership, more than anything,” Mike Oliver said. “Last year he kind of snuck up on some people. (Now) expectation is high for him as being one of the top guards in the city. So you know him and (Michael Oliver Jr.), they’ve been on varsity four years.
“With our history, people are gonna be coming after us.”
And Justin Oliver and the Condors plan to be ready.