Had a new player love Shocking Grasp, but hate to have to get close. How about something similar, but not overpowered?
Ball Lightning
Evocation Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 100 feet
Components: V,S
Duration: Instantaneous
You lob a ball of pure electricity at a target. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d6 electric damage and can not take reactions for the next turn.
The spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6)
Throat Punch Games 
No reason why you could not go this route. I Might Instead suggest that you have your player go this route. Find Familiar 1st-level conjuration (ritual). From this spell they can then cast Shocking grasp through it.
When you cast a spell with a range of touch,
your familiar can deliver the spell as if it had cast the
spell. Your familiar must be within 100 feet of you, and
it must use its reaction to deliver the spell when you cast
it. If the spell requires an attack roll, you use your attack
modifier for the roll.
True, but somebody has to get up close. I figured by decreasing the damage, you’d still get the reaction loss from an enemy and your electric damage.
Glad to see your input! Thanks for visiting!
It’s not electric, it is lightning. Why not just make it a lightning strike? After all, most lightning occurs from the ground up and not the clouds down. 😉
That would be fair, but I just went with ball lightning as I was envisioning the spell caster throwing a ball of lightning at the enemy. And ball lighting is somewhat more mystical (I hope).