Frumnotyeshivish: Anything is possible. But I spent a lot of time preparing for the LSAT, and discussing it with others who were preparing. I also know a number of people who went to and succeeded at top schools. None of them were smart enough to score a 170 without studying long hours. And a 170 is not really enough for a Yeshiva guy, generally speaking.
FWIW, I have met one or possibly two people in my life who had the sheer mental acuity to get in the mid-170s without trying. I guess it’s possible that OP’s friend was such a person. But if that were the case, he would not have been slacking in college – just getting A+s without needing to do work.