If he is still a “straight A student” despite being “lazier”, it is not like he will have difficulty getting into a decent college and doing well there.
Is there a lot of pressure from the school, peers, etc. pushing a “HYPSM/UCB/UCLA or bust” mentality on him, such that it is seen as a “failure” to get admitted “only” to UCSB, CPSLO, UCR, SJSU, etc., or even choosing to start at a community college?