McDyess was born in Quitman, Mississippi and attended the University of Alabama. As a prep, McDyess was one of the top 30 players nationally, and made the Magic Johnson Roundball Classic. McDyess played college basketball at the University of Alabama. As a sophomore, he led the Crimson Tide in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (10.0), and was considered the SEC's best big man. He decided to forgo his final two years of college to enter the 1995 NBA draft.