Rod Creech was once told by his high school basketball coach that his jump shot was not good enough to make the varsity team.

Not only did he develop that jump shot, but nearly 30 years later, Creech’s career has culminated in an induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

“He was a good, young prospect and I could tell he really liked the game, but he didn’t have a jump shot. He always shot a set shot,” said Dan Gunn, who coached Creech at Penn High School in the 1980s.

“I told him if he didn’t have a jump shot by next year, we’d probably have to cut him for somebody else.

“I was just trying to motivate him to work extra hard to get that jump shot started, and I think that worked then. I’m not sure that would work today, but for Rod, he developed into an excellent player and a great scorer for us.”

Shortly after graduating as a student-athlete from Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Mich., Creech founded the Michiana Basketball Academy in Osceola and has seen his career come full circle: Student has become master.

His travel program has 220 students and can count 15 Indiana All-Stars, including Marian’s Demetrius Jackson and Penn’s Alex Morton.

“We’ve had a lot of great players come through the program, which is fun for me, because I just wanted to give back to the community and help kids in our area to excel and (show them) what it takes to achieve greatness,” Creech said.

“A lot of people talk about it, but a lot of people don’t know how to do it or the path to get there. I just try to give them leadership and guidance of going down the path that I’ve gone down.”

In 1987, Creech’s senior year, Penn defeated Concord in the sectional championship and eventually bowed out to heavily favored Marion in the elite eight.

“It was a great run,” Creech said. “I can’t believe it was 25 years ago. To share those kinds of moments and to have that kind of opportunity that we did, it was obviously all against all back then — there was no class basketball, which made it even more special.”

Gunn distinctly remembers the final play of the 1987 sectional championship, when Creech hit a shot from the corner to win the title. Gunn experienced déjà vu this less than three weeks ago when Edwardsburg, his current school, defeated Buchanan High School at the buzzer with a prayer — a nearly half-court shot from Josh Kozinski.

“Rod hit one just like that … If you hang around (basketball) long enough, you’ll see it all,” Gunn said.

Gunn said Creech transformed from a freshman without a jump shot into the team’s heart and soul as the floor general by his senior campaign.

“He was our point guard, so he was our leader,” Gunn said. “And my philosophy has always been to work (with) and have a close relationship with all the players. But the point guard is so important for you, but he was just one of those players who not only was a good player on the floor, but he was a good coach on the floor.”

How did Creech evolve into such an accomplished player after a simple challenge from his coach?

“I had to give up a lot of stuff that the normal kid at my age would be doing,” he said.