I know a lot of people in my high school who are in the top 5% of our class, but have no ability to think creatively.

GPA is just a measure of how much time you spend studying, factored in with your natural intelligence.

The people with the most intellectual potential are those who maintain a decent GPA but spend little time studying, but instead do things that are productive (as the article explained).

A valedictorian who does nothing but studies doesn't have a greatly increased chance of succeeding in life.