When you sometimes have to shout “I CAST FIST!”

Better than axesaw

There’s a decent half-caster homebrew class called magi that would work for that, if your DM is accommodating.

Maybe modify hexblade or something to turn ranged spells into melee spells and make damage less consistent but slightly larger - that could be fun. Or you don’t even really need a damage debuff because being melee only would be a big disadvantage. Maybe melee-optional, but there’s a greater payoff in terms of damage if you melee cast a ranged spell…