I mean, it's not entirely about talent either, kids and their families can play in that world more or less depending on what their priorities are, and depending what part of the basketball universe they're in. Places like Chicago, the tippy-top of the AAU world, the world of basketball factory prep schools, this stuff is just a part of life there, whereas if you're out in the middle of nowhere you would need to find your way into that world somehow.
But let's give Snider a bit of credit here, he was RSCI #37, only 7 spots behind JaQuan Lyle, who you mentioned. Certainly a player with the possibility of an NBA future, which is what agents and shoe companies are spending the money for. Zero-star guys going low-D1 are of no interest to Nike or Adidas, though that doesn't mean impermissible benefits don't come their way in a variety of other fashions.
And you add the context of Snider's commitment to UI being a glorified hostage video which made clear he knew nothing about Illinois and like, put two and two together here.
Did Louisville pay to flip him, or was he willing to walk away from the Illinois arrangement because Louisville is where he wanted to go all along? Who the heck knows. There's more to it than money sometimes, as the Bowen case indicates.