O'Bryant attended Bradley University for two years and led the Braves to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2006 NCAA Tournament before losing to University of Memphis. His breakout performance against traditional powerhouses Kansas and Pittsburgh at the tournament caught the eyes of NBA scouts. But in late 2005, O'Bryant, along with another student, was suspended for 8 games by the NCAA for receiving improper payments for work claimed he had undertaken in the summer, but had not actually done. All up he was paid $1,100 on a weekly basis, regardless of whether he showed up to work or not. On April 22, 2006, O'Bryant declared for the NBA draft, but did not hire an agent, making him eligible to return to college. However, O'Bryant made his declaration official the following month when he hired Andy Miller as his agent.